Warrington Borough Council is one of a number of local authorities in England to be successful in a bid for funding, as part of a pilot by DEFRA and charity WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme).

The funding aims to help councils tackle fly-tipping by carrying out trial projects, such as the introduction of CCTV to target hotspots.

In Warrington, the funding will be used for additional surveillance equipment, signage and bin policy notices. The effectiveness of these interventions will be monitored throughout the project.

Warrington’s three Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) do not charge for the disposal of domestic waste – including DIY waste – but in some parts of the borough stubborn pockets of fly tipping remain. The funding from DEFRA and WRAP will therefore enable the council to reinforce the message that fly-tipping will not be tolerated.

Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for housing, and public protection, Cllr Hitesh Patel, said: “I’m pleased that we have been successful in securing this funding, which will support our on-going work to crack down on fly-tipping, which causes such a blight in our borough.

“We provide free waste disposal for household items, with Warrington residents able to take their waste to one of our CRC sites – in Gatewarth, Woolston and Stockton Heath. In addition, unlike many other local authorities, we don’t charge for DIY and home improvements waste disposal.

“There is simply no excuse for fly-tipping in Warrington and we will always take the strongest possible action against culprits. We will be using this funding to help educate and inform people, while increasing our own ability to catch those who carry out this criminal act.”