FLY-TIPPING reached a record level in Cheshire West and Chester, and Cheshire East, last year, figures show, though fewer or no court fines were handed out.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said the 'disgraceful' behaviour blights the countryside and warned that the true extent of fly-tipping across England is probably even higher than feared.

Department for environment, food and rural affairs data shows 5,731 fly-tipping incidents were reported to Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2020-21.

This was a 54 per cent increase on the 3,722 discoveries made the year before, and the highest number since comparable records began in 2012-13.

However, just 25 fines, a combined £6,209, resulting from court convictions were issued in the area last year – down from 43 in 2019-20.

Cheshire West and Chester Council carried out 591 enforcement actions in 2020-21, including 34 fixed penalty notices.

In Cheshire East 4,321 fly-tipping incidents were reported to to the council in 2020-21.

This was a 57 per cent increase on the 2,746 discoveries made the year before, and the highest number since comparable records began.

However, no fines resulting from court convictions were issued in the area last year – and none were issued in 2019-20.

Cheshire East Council carried out 541 enforcement actions in 2020-21, including 268 fixed penalty notices.

Across England, a record 1.1 million incidents of rubbish dumped on highways and beauty spots were found in 2020-21, up from 980,000 the previous year.

But the number of court fines halved from 2,672 to just 1,313 – with their total value decreasing from £1.2 million to £440,000.

The CLA, which represents rural businesses, said the vast majority of fly-tipping occurs on private land, which the figures do not cover.

Mark Tufnell, president of the CLA, said: "These figures do not tell the full story of this disgraceful behaviour which blights our beautiful countryside.

"Fly-tipping continues to wreck the lives of many of us living and working in the countryside – and significant progress needs to be made to stop it.

"It’s not just the odd bin bag but large household items, from unwanted sofas to broken washing machines, building materials and even asbestos being dumped across our countryside."

The Government said the first national coronavirus lockdown impacted many local authorities’ recycling programmes, and that changes to household purchasing may also have driven the increased fly-tipping.

Resources and Waste Minister Jo Churchill said: "During the pandemic, local authorities faced an unprecedented challenge to keep rubbish collections running and civic amenity sites open, and the Government worked closely with them to maintain these critical public services.

"We have already given local authorities a range of powers to tackle fly-tipping and we are going further; strengthening powers to detect and prosecute waste criminals through the new Environment Act, consulting on introducing electronic waste tracking and reforming the licensing system."