FLY-TIPPERS are blighting communities across Flintshire and costing the taxpayer thousands of pounds.
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hat is the claim of Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami who is calling for harsh action to be taken against the culprits.

Streets, alleyways and even beauty spots have become hotspots for litterbugs and community leaders say more needs to be done to stamp out the problem.

Mr Tami said: “I am always out and about across the area visiting residents and businesses and all too often I come across large amounts of litter from cigarette packets and cans to very large items of furniture and building waste.

“You do not have to go very far to find rubbish and waste being dumped in the alleyways of our towns to the open countryside and our villages.”

There were 697 recorded incidents of fly-tipping across Flintshire in 2010-11 at a cost of £45,026 for the county council to clear up.

“This very week I have walked through the backstreets of Shotton to find an awful amount of litter including builders rubble, a broken suitcase, bin bags ripped open, car parts and a mattress.

He added: “It is time the county council started catching the culprits and make them pay for their misdemeanours with some sort of community payback and getting these individuals to clean up the rubbish, it might just teach them a vital lesson.”

Buckley councillor Dennis Hutchinson, Flintshire Council’s executive member for public protection, is calling on residents in the county to report fly-tippers so they can be taken to court.

He said: “We have a zero tolerance approach towards fly-tipping. It is a very difficult one to bring to justice.

“Fly-tipping is a blight on our landscape. From a council point of view we take it very seriously, I would have no hesitation taking anyone caught to court.

“We need intelligence from members of the public, if they tell us who is doing it we can take them to court.”

Holywell councillor Peter Curtis, who reported fly-tipping at the picturesque Greenfield Heritage site to police last month, is also calling for members of the public to let councillors know about incidents of fly-tipping.

“I just don’t understand why people do it because we have a very good system for waste,” he said.

“Those on benefits can have the council pick up large items or other people can get rid of them for a small charge. Some people can’t be bothered, it’s a shame because it’s their own environment they’re messing up.”