Fly-tipping fines doubled since 2024, says council

Fines handed to people for fly-tipping in Peterborough have doubled since 2024, the city council has said.

At a council meeting on Wednesday, Heather Skibsted, a Green Party councillor, asked the Labour-run authority for an update on fixed penalty notices issued to fly-tippers in the city.

Angus Ellis, the Labour cabinet member for environment and transport, said last year 231 fines were issued, which was more than double the 104 handed out in 2024.

He called the increase "encouraging" and added that the use of CCTV cameras and publicity campaigns around the crime had contributed towards a rise in people reporting incidents.

Skibsted, who represents the city's Orton Longueville ward, called on the city council to look at implementing rapid response teams, a method used by Birmingham City Council, where incidents were investigated within 24 hours.

"I have not seen that level of urgency when I recently reported a video of a fly-tipping incident," she said.

Ellis, who represents the Park Ward, said: "Birmingham is the biggest council in the UK and is not a fair comparison."

He instead highlighted the work being done as part of the task and finish group set up in 2025 to tackle the growing issue of fly-tipping.

Ellis also responded to Mark Ormiston, an independent councillor, who questioned the progress made by the cross-party taskforce, which gathered evidence and looked at other areas of the UK where they have been successful in tackling the problem.

Ellis said the group had met in March, April and October.

"I am a bit frustrated that the group has not been able to make more progress but there have been some healthy discussions taken place," he said.

"I have worked closely with officers to ensure progress doesn't stall and also met with the National Farmers Union to help them protect their lands from fly-tippers."

Ormiston, who represents city's Eye, Thorney and Newborough ward, said he "welcomed" the updates.

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