Tell us about illegal flytippers who blight the Yarmouth borough

ENFORCERS are cracking down on the flytippers who are putting a �70,000 drain on the public purse in Great Yarmouth.

A team of three environmental rangers is patrolling the borough in vans, and a network of secret cameras is in place to catch offenders. But while prosecutions are being made - with a Caister landlord found guilty of dumping waste in a Yarmouth alleyway on Friday - officers say they need the public’s help to bring people to justice.

Glenn Buck, community protection manager, said: “I can understand the frustration of residents but if we can’t find evidence that points the finger at people it’s difficult for us.

“People don’t want to get involved and come forward, but we can speak to people confidentially and it will help push cases on against completely anti-social behaviour.”

He said a �70,000 annual budget has to be set aside to correctly dispose of illegally dumped waste, and local taxpayers are footing the bill.

The most recent successful prosecution was against Russell Waites, who pleaded guilty to dumping eight bags of rubble, tree branches and general DIY waste in an alleyway near East Road, Yarmouth on April 24.

Waites, of Western Rise, Caister, was caught when a PCSO spotted the pile of waste and alerted rangers.

They found a letterhead linking the pile to the tenant of one of his properties, where it is understood there was a recent house clearance.

Yarmouth magistrates fined him �30, and ordered him to pay �65 costs when he appeared before them last Friday. But despite this success, the rate of prosecutions can be as low as 1pc in a year.

“It’s absolutely despicable and we find ourselves banging our heads against the wall,” said Mr Buck. “Often the back alleyways get cleared and within a day people are putting rubbish back there. It’s pure laziness.”

In 2011-12 there were 1,458 complaints to the environmental health team - though around a third of these regard dog fouling.

There were just six prosecutions and 40 enforcement actions. Since April this year there have been 800 complaints, three prosecutions and 21 enforcement actions.

Mr Buck said:“Last week we cleared an area of Beaconsfield Road and it was relatively spotless,” he added. “But within six hours someone had dropped more bags there.

“It was in broad daylight and someone must have seen them.”

Val Pettit, cabinet member for environment, urged people to report offenders as enforcers will keep their part of the bargain.

“There is a clear strength of feeling in the borough that people failing to clear up after their dog, or flytipping material, is anti-social and should not have to be accepted,” she said.

To report flytipping, call 01493 846478 or email health@great-yarmouth.gov.uk GYB Services will pick up white goods free and people are being urged to dispose of them properly by calling 01493 742200.