Agencies visit Stoke woods over concerns about repeated fly-tipping
Exeter's MP believes action is being taken
Following repeated reports by constituents, Exeter's MP has been visiting a site in Stoke Woods that has become notorious for fly-tipping.
Steve Race invited senior representatives from the Environment Agency, alongside officers from Exeter City Counci, to join him on a walk around the area.
Mr Race was told Stoke Woods was difficult to police because it is 'on a quiet road away from houses, with no access to power for lights or cameras, and private land owned by Forestry England'.
In March the Government launched the Waste Crime Action Plan, backed by £45 million for the EA to pursue fly-tippers and criminal gangs across the country.
Mr Race said: “Exeter’s green spaces are something we are rightly proud of, but for too long we have had to put up with repeated fly-tipping marring our parks and countryside.
“This Government has introduced a range of new powers to make it easier to identify and crack down on offenders. I wanted to get a clear picture of how these will be deployed on the ground in Exeter, so invited the Environment Agency and officers from Exeter City Council to join me at Stoke Woods, having received particular concerns from residents about dumping here.
“This isn’t primarily about individuals not using the tip; it’s about cowboy operators posing as legitimate businesses, making money out of illegal dumping."