FLY-TIPPING continues to be a problem in Brentwood – despite the damning revelation earlier this year that no offenders have been prosecuted.
No fewer than six different tips in Orchard Avenue and Houston Avenue have been reported to one councillor in the past few weeks.
This comes despite the fact that in January it emerged that Brentwood Borough Council did not take a single person to court for fly-tipping in 2011/12 – despite being made aware of 306 cases.
The photographs shown were taken on August 6 by Labour councillor Julie Morrissey in a bid to highlight the extent of the problem.
The Brentwood South member said this week: "I think fly-tipping has got worse. People cannot afford to pay the waste charge to have these items picked up.
"I think the council need to do more – I will be getting in touch to see what it is doing. If we keep taking it away offenders won't stop doing it."
Councillor Morrissey added: "Last year a landlord emptied the contents of his flat he was renting out onto the pavement and he wasn't given a penalty."
She claimed there was another incident last year when the council found a culprit but the person was not arrested.
"He held up his hands and removed the rubbish but he wasn't given a penalty charge – the council said that charging him would be a bit heavy-handed," she said.
"I think the council should offer a yearly collection for people to get rid of their waste.
"The council need to be more creative – as some people have no way of getting rid of large items of rubbish.
Brentwood Council claim they are actively investigating a number of the 181 complaints of fly tipping brought to the authority in the first six months of this year.
They explained that they have put extra resources into keeping the streets clean with initiatives launched in 2013 including a new four-person neighbourhood action team to target "grot spots", a new trade waste officer whose job is to visit local businesses and offer advice and a litter awareness programme for secondary schools.
Councillor Keith Parker, environment spokesman, said: "The council has a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping – a selfish act which blights Brentwood.
"Our officers are investigating cases and gathering the evidence necessary to bring court action. We will continue to work with Essex police on stop and search operations for commercial vehicles to ensure they are dumping waste legally.
"There is also a dedicated hotline for anyone who has information on fly tipping – you can help us by calling 01277 262728."
