A council is stepping up its efforts to combat flytipping.

Fenland District Council has taken on extra enforcement powers enabling it to issue £300 fixed penalty notices to businesses that fail to produce proper waste transfer notes and to waste carriers found not to have the necessary licences.

Over the past couple of months the council has started investigations into seven incidents of flytipping where evidence of possible offenders has been found at the scene.

It has also installed warning signs in up to 30 places recognised as flytipping “hot spots” and is developing close links with other partners to track down offenders and take action against them.

Councillor Peter Murphy, FDC’s Cabinet member responsible for the environment, said: “Flytipping is a problem that can only be effectively tackled by everyone – householders, businesses and the various statutory authorities - working closely together.

“The nature of flytipping means it is very difficult to catch offenders red-handed. We are continuing to work hard to make people more aware of the issue and the part they can play in tackling it, as well as increasing surveillance and taking steps to secure more successful prosecutions.

“The power to issue these new fixed penalty notices further strengthens our hand.”

The new warning signs have been erected in key locations across the district. They spell out the penalties for flytipping and serve notice that surveillance equipment is being used to capture images of those responsible.

Recent flytipping investigations have led to links being forged with Peterborough City Council’s environmental enforcement and trading standards teams to help with cases where waste from Peterborough has been dumped within Fenland.

The council is also working with enforcement officers from Huntingdonshire District Council, drawing on their experience in bringing successful prosecutions.

In September FDC urged all residents not to hand over waste to unlicensed cold callers offering to dispose of it for cash.

It reminded them that householders have a legal duty to take reasonable measures to ensure that waste produced on their property is passed on to an authorised person. Failure to do so could result in them being prosecuted and fined up to £5,000.

Council officers have also been visiting businesses to remind them of their responsibilities to dispose of waste properly.

To report incidents of flytipping, email streetscene@fenland.gov.uk or call 01354 654321 and ask to speak to a member of the Street Scene team.