Fly tipping crackdown

Cheshire East has increased maximum fly-tipping penalties to £5,000 and is now considering surveillance to crackdown on offenders after issuing just 18 fine notices for 3,800 offences in a year.

Congleton town councillor Robert Douglas praised the council for increasing the fines – which now range from £500 to £5,000 depending on the offence.

But he told this week's meeting of the full council at Tatton Park: "The new higher penalties will only be effective if Cheshire East aggressively pursues those who commit the crime of fly-tipping."

Cllr Douglas said fly-tipping levels are 35 per cent higher now than they were in the three years prior to April 2020