A council’s efforts to combat fly-tipping in Fenland is paying dividends.

Three sites that have seen regular fly-tipping - Wolf Lane in Gorefield, Black Drove in Murrow and Gosmoor Lane in Elm – have seen it go down from 18 incidents to two since Fenland District Council installed 35 warning signs (an 89 per cent improvement). Street Scene officers and cleansing operatives have also been visiting hotspot areas regularly.

At one of the hotspots, secret cameras were installed. However, since their installation there was no fly-tipping at the spot and the cameras have now been removed while the council applies to magistrates to locate them at another site.

Officers are following up information related to those who may be responsible for fly-tipping. The council formally interviewed two people under caution. A third suspect failed to attend for interview.

A rolling programme of business visits aimed at offering advice on how to dispose of waste legally has started. To date, the council has issued three Section 34 notices to businesses and one business in March has been issued with a £300 Fixed Penalty Notice for failing to comply with trade waste provisions. Two waste carriers have been reported to the Environment Agency as they were found to be in breach of their permit.

MP Steve Barclay, who has urged the council to take a tougher stance on fly-tipping, said: “It is great that some areas have seen such a dramatic drop in fly-tipping, but at the same time it is a shame none of those responsible for dumping rubbish in our countryside have been prosecuted.

“Legal action can be a great deterrent for those who fly-tip, especially if they see others are having to pay fines.

“I hope the council has more success when they re-deploy the hidden cameras at the next site in catching those responsible.”