BURT CALLS FOR MORE ACTION ON FLY-TIPPING AS NEW FIGURES PUBLISHED

11.02.29pm GMT Tue 16th Oct 2007

As new figures are published today showing a huge rise in local fly-tipping, Solihull's MP Lorely Burt is calling upon the council to do more to tackle the problem.

The new figures from the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs show a staggering 2,493 incidents of fly-tipping in Solihull in the last year alone, at a cost to the local taxpayer of £122,291.

Commenting on the new figures from Westminster, Lorely Burt said:

"Since I was elected in 2005, fly-tipping in Solihull has risen five-fold, with incredibly low prosecution rates for offenders.

"Despite some good progress over the past years - including more reporting - there is far too much fly-tipping blighting our local streets and countryside. It is not acceptable and I call upon the council to do more to tackle it.

"Of course, central government has a role to play in this by continuing to provide and update the tools and guidance to enable action to be taken. And the public and businesses must also play a part by reporting incidents and dealing with their waste responsibly.

"In short, we can best clean up our local streets by all working together."