President's Page
Del Smith 12 Tring Gardens, Harold Hill, Romford, Essex RM3 9EP
In recent years one of the more unpleasant aspects of a visit to the countryside is the
likelihood of coming across a heap of fly-tipped rubbish. Add to this the general litter
which seems to have become an epidemic and a visit to your favourite spot can be
disappointing. The general litter seems to have come about by a combination of changes
- in the way we package food, in the general increased mobility of the population and in
the failure of local councils to address the problem. Fly tipping is a more recent
phenomenon, but of course there was always low level dumping. In fact I can remember
in the sixties a lorry driver I was with telling me that you knew when you were approaching
Harold Hill (my home town) by the crescendo of old mattresses and prams in the ditches
- small beer by today's standards.
Quite rightly, recent governments have been attempting to increase the amount of
recycling and reduce our dependence on landfill and they have provided incentives to
one and an ever increasing disincentive, the landfill tax, to the other. These measures
have brought about changes and improvements. But one of the unforeseen consequences
has been the incentive to the unscrupulous to make big money fast by dumping in the
countryside. The people doing this vary from the DIY enthusiast to the small builder
right up to large well organised criminal gangs dumping hazardous waste on a large
scale. The penalties for these offences have lagged far behind the profits to be made.
£1,500 used to be the maximum fine, but at last the legislation is catching up. The
maximum fine has now been raised to £50,000 plus up to five years imprisonment and
confiscation of vehicles. Of course it will make little impression if the law is not enforced,
and that will be key. Will the authorities put in the resources? We can but hope.
On the litter front the law has been strengthened. On the spot fines have been raised to
£80 and litter has been redefined to specifically include items such as chewing gum and
cigarette ends. Fines can also be imposed for putting domestic rubbish out too early. It's
OK having these laws, but of course they are worthless if they remain unenforced. In my
own London Borough of Havering not a single ticket was issued in 2004/5. In Chelmsford
it was 25 and in the London Borough of Southwark a staggering 1,583 fines were imposed.
What is it about the good people of Southwark? Are they so dim that they always get
caught, or is it because the council in Southwark take the problem seriously whereas
Havering just turn a blind eye.
Check out how your council is doing at, www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localenv/
legislation/fpn/index.htm. Right the talking is over. - everyone can do something if they
want to: there is an excellent website at www.keepwalestidy.org/english/images/
guidetoapplvingforalitterabatementorder.pdf. This site provides you with all the information
required to apply for a litter abatement order under The Environment Protection Act of
1990. It supplies you with three specimen letters and all you need to do is fill in the gaps
and post them off. The first is a request for a clear up from the "responsible body" (usually
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Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 50, May 2006