Local Council
Police chief sees how £1,450 cleared Wisbech ‘crime scene’
Police and crime commissioner Darryl Preston visited Wisbech to see how his donation had helped clear a ‘crime scene’.
Fenland District Council used the £1,450 from the police commissioner’s communities fund to clear waste from an area renowned for fly tipping.
The fly tipping spot in New Drove, Wisbech, before the clean-up
“My Safer Communities Fund was created to provide a swift and robust response to crimes like fly-tipping, which is anti-social, environmentally damaging and a crime,” said Mr Preston.
“I applaud the great work by Fenland District Council Street Scene team, working together to keep our communities safe.”
The council says the money was awarded to them from Mr Preston to clear an area of land in New Drove, Wisbech.
A council spokesperson said: “Our Street Scene team found evidence in the fly-tipping that, following an investigation, led to a £400 fixed penalty notice being issued to an individual, which has now been paid.”
Cllr Peter Murphy, Fenland District Council’s portfolio holder for Street Scene, said: “This is a great result that has led to a dramatic improvement in the appearance of this area in Wisbech.
“It’s also a demonstration of how our Street Scene team will work tirelessly to find the people responsible for fly-tipping and bring them to justice.
The fly tipping spot in New Drove, Wisbech, after the clean-up
“We’d like to thank Cambridgeshire and Peterborough PCC for its support in enabling this outcome.”
He said the Street Scene team, whose job it is to investigate environmental waste offences, had noted a long-term fly-tipping problem in New Drove – a long road made up of residential and commercial units.
Most of the waste was in a ditch along the boundary of a private field.
The council says it only has official responsibility to clear waste from public highways and its own land but wanted to tackle the issue along with the landowner.
“The council, having sought permission from the landowner, created a soil bund in front of the ditch to make vehicle access more difficult and help prevent future fly tipping,” said the spokesperson.
“In the main, waste dumped at the site was household items and large bulky waste, such as carpet and fridges, along with construction waste.
“Monitoring since the work was done in October shows a reduction in fly-tipping at the site.
“Further works took place this month to clear the opposite side of the field entrance and install signage to deter further fly-tipping.”
“Fly-tipping is a criminal offence that carries an unlimited fine and potential prison sentence.
“Fenland District Council takes all fly-tipping reports very seriously.”
Find out more via: Our fly-tipping page
The quickest way to report fly-tipping is via online form: Report fly-tipping
