Fly-tippers force closure of country lane

The fly-tip was found in Penn Lane, off the A5 near Wibtoft, on Tuesday morning.

Officers from the council's environmental protection team visited the scene shortly after 8am and launched an investigation in a bid to find evidence to trace the owner of the rubbish - a mixture of household and industrial waste.

A CCTV camera installed in Penn Lane was dismantled before the incident, leading officers to believe it was the work of experienced, 'commercial' fly-tippers.

The rubbish was removed by a council team shortly before 1pm, when Penn Lane re-opened to traffic.

The fly-tip came just a week after the council joined the new, national #CrimeNotToCare campaign, co-ordinated by Keep Britain Tidy.

In 2016 fly-tipping cost the borough's taxpayers nearly £57,000 in clean-up costs, and #CrimeNotToCare's key message - 'Your Rubbish, Your Responsibility' - highlights the duty of care householders have when it comes to disposing of waste.

Duty of care means if a householder pays a 'man with a van' or business to take away rubbish, but fails to check whether the individual or company has a Waste Carrier Licence, the householder retains a legal responsibility for the disposal of the waste.

Failure to demonstrate duty of care leaves householders at risk of prosecution and a hefty fine.

Cllr Lisa Parker, Rugby Borough Council's portfolio holder for environment and public realm, said: "This incident illustrates the harsh reality of the nationwide fly-tipping epidemic which prompted Keep Britain Tidy to launch #CrimeNotToCare.

"Paying a 'man with a van' or business cash-in-hand to remove rubbish can appear a cheap and easy solution, but it comes at a considerable cost to the environment, the taxpayer and the waste disposal companies who follow the letter of the law.

"You may pay for waste to be removed in good faith and be told it will be disposed of legally, but your rubbish remains your responsibility and ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the law.

"It's quick and easy to check whether the person you pay to take away your rubbish has the correct Waste Carrier Licence, and if you fail in your duty of care you face a fine and a criminal record."

Residents can check the Environment Agency's register of Waste Carrier Licence holders by calling 0370 8506 506 or by visiting the Environment Agency website.

For more information on fly-tipping, visit www.rugby.gov.uk/flytipping

Anyone with information about the fly-tipping incident in Wibtoft can call the environmental protection team on (01788) 533857 or email ept@rugby.gov.uk

Photo captions: Penn Lane was closed for five hours after Tuesday morning's fly-tipping incident.