'One of the worst fly tips' dumped in South Devon

The waste was tipped near Buckfastleigh last Thursday [11 July]

Details have been shared of a massive fly-tip in South Devon, which a local council says will cost more than £5,000 to clear up.

The builders' waste was tipped near Buckfastleigh last Thursday, blocking two public rights of way and raising concerns about asbestos.

It was cleared yesterday, but South Hams District Council said it was money that could have been better spent elsewhere.

Cllr Peter Smerdon, Ward Member for South Brent, said: "I have been a Councillor for nearly ten years and this is one of the worst fly tips I have seen. Dean Prior is a very small parish, but suffers tremendously from fly tipping because it is so close to the A38.

"This one is clearly the waste from a big building project somewhere, and I would be willing to bet that the householder has paid someone to clear the site with no idea that this is what they've done with it.

"It's incredibly frustrating - the council are experiencing huge budget pressures, and incidents like this drains resources that should be elsewhere. Yes, there is a cost disposing of non-household waste, but it's not unreasonable, and why should every other household in the District bear that cost when it's just one home having the work done?"

Cllr Guy Pannell, Ward Member for South Brent, added: "The council has the power to fine fly tippers, or prosecute. I would urge local residents to keep an eye out for vehicles carrying large loads or acting suspiciously, and note down registration numbers if possible, but without putting themselves at risk."

Householders have a responsibility to check whether people removing waste for them are properly licensed. In recent years there has been a rise in people offering to remove waste for cash payments, so called "Facebook Fly-Tipping."