Shocking figures reveal more than 3,000 fly tipping incidents in Calderdale

There were more than 3,000 incidents of fly-tipping in Calderdale last year as the council explores as many ways as possible to prevent it.

Calderdale councillors have agreed to extend ways to deal with the problem, including some which have had some success at councils in other parts of the country.

There is cross-party support for dealing with the issue which blights the borough and costs the council to clean up.

At the meeting of the full Calderdale Council – re-convened from a postponed meeting early in February – councillors backed a Liberal Democrat motion, incorporating a Labour amendment, to do this.

A Conservative amendment calling for the issue to be further examined by one of the council’s scrutiny boards was defeated.

Coun Steven Leigh (Con, Ryburn) stressed his group supported other measures which might be considered – fly-tipping was a scourge on the borough – but felt a special session was required.

Coun Josh Fenton-Glynn (Lab, Calder) said approving the motion put by Coun Amanda Parsons-Hulse (Lib Dem, Warley) did not preclude scrutiny boards going back to the issue anyhow.

The motion recognises the council alone can achieve success in curbing littering – the public, businesses and other partners all have to be involved, including developing a “litter champions” scheme.