Press Release: 12th May 2010

New fly-tipping pilot launched by CPRE in East Hampshire

An important new project has begun this week to assess the scale of fly-tipping, especially on private farmland and woodland where there is no information, with the aim of better preventing and dealing with the problem in the long-term. A pilot scheme, due to last one year, was launched on 12th May by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

For the first time in the South of England, CPRE Hampshire will be working alongside a group of other powerful organisations to counteract the blight of fly-tipping. The project's overseeing committee includes the NFU, CLA, East Hampshire District Council and the Environment Agency. It has received funding from the South Downs Sustainable Development Fund.

Landowners/managers, farmers, government and local government representatives are working together with volunteers from CPRE Hampshire on this innovative pilot scheme. If successful, it is planned that the findings will inform a wider project planned for the county of Hampshire.

The pilot project, to be run in 12 parishes* to begin with, will trial a number of new approaches:

• using volunteer reporters ('fly-spotters') who will be the eyes and ears of the local community
• testing out different ways of reporting fly-tipping
• looking at the problem on farmland as well as on public land
• bringing together the work of the District Council and Environment Agency to assist and advise farmers and land managers with investigations and how to cope with the problem.

William White, NFU South-east regional director, said:

"Anyone living and working in the countryside cannot fail to have noticed how much more fly-tipping and litter dropping is going on around them. This project aims to harness the power of the people on the ground to report fly-tipping incidents so that we can prove categorically there is a lot more to be done to tackle this growing societal problem."

Ben Underwood, for the CLA added:

"Cleaning up waste, particularly hazardous materials such as asbestos, costs landowners thousands of pounds each year. Until we have figures indicating the fly-tipping incidents on all land - private and public - the true scale of fly-tipping will never be ascertained and the necessary resources to deal with the problem will never be allocated."

An easy-to-use website reporting system has been set up by East Hampshire District Council for use by registered volunteers. Printed post-cards are also available from CPRE Hampshire.

If you would like to register as a 'Fly-spotter' and report any fly-tips that you see when you are out and about, in the first instance email info@cprehampshire.org.uk or telephone Becky French, CPRE Hampshire on 01962 779185.

- Ends -

CPRE/H/189

Notes to editors

CPRE Hampshire strives to promote the beauty, tranquility and diversity of the countryside of Hampshire by the sustainable use of land and other resources in town and country, and encouraging the biodiversity and well-being of rural communities.

1. A detailed media backgrounder is also available on this new project - download PDF file here.

2. The 12 pilot parishes are currently:
Buriton, Chawton, Colemore and Priors Dean, East Meon, East Tisted, Farringdon, Froxfield and Privett, Newton Valence, Ropley, Rowlands Castle, Selborne, Steep.

For all media enquiries, please contact:
Keren Burney, media & communications officer, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01730 894123   Mobile: 07876 780065
Email: kburney@compege.co.uk

For information on CPRE, please contact:
Anthony McEwen, Director, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01962 779185   Mobile: 07717 296025
Email:anthony.mcewen@cprehampshire.org.uk