Sutton streets are cleaner - Burstow

12.00.00am GMT Tue 14th Mar 2006

Sutton suffers less fly-tipping than most London Boroughs, new figures obtained by Paul Burstow MP have revealed.

There were 3,180 reported fly tipping incidences in Sutton between April and September last year, compared to Kensington and Chelsea, the worst London borough for fly-tipping, who report an overwhelming 16,779 fly-tipping incidences - more than five times as much rubbish on the streets.

Nearly 40% of Sutton fly-tipping offences are of household rubbish totalling 1,236 offences, followed by construction waste and white goods such as refrigerators and washing machines.

The council has been working hard to keep fly-tipping down. Last year Sutton Council spent an estimated £150,000 removing dumped rubbish and have instituted a new zero tolerance policy for fly-tipping.

Sutton Council has warned potential fly-tippers that they will be fined if they fail to produce evidence that they hired a registered waste carrier to remove their rubbish. Fines can run up to £5,000 for failure to ensure waste is transferred to an authorised person.

Paul Burstow MP commented:

"Illegal dumping of rubbish blights the lives of residents, making areas more run down and contributing to other social problems. The Sutton Council has realised the harmful effects of this and has responded accordingly."

"We are fortunate to live in one of the cleanest boroughs in London. We just have to make sure we keep it that way."

ENDS.