Fly-tipping crackdown launched at Sandwell trouble spots as council finds 'promising leads'

Sandwell Council carried out an enforcement operation at Forge Lane and Park Lane Sign up to our Express & Star newsletter Did you know with a Plus subscription to Express and Star you get full access to our award winning journalism for the news that matters to you and more. A major crackdown has been launched at two persistent fly-tipping hotspots – with council officers uncovering a "significant number of promising leads". Sandwell Council carried out an enforcement operation at Forge Lane and Park Lane, combining a large-scale clean-up with efforts to track down those responsible for dumping rubbish. Before the waste was removed, each fly-tip was examined by the council's rapid response team for evidence which could help identify where it had come from and who was responsible. The council said evidence recovered during the operation had resulted in a number of individuals being identified as part of ongoing investigations. Environmental enforcement officers are now reviewing the information, with relevant individuals set to be contacted directly. The council said people whose details were discovered among the rubbish would be asked to explain how their waste came to be illegally dumped. Investigations will look at both those who may have directly fly-tipped and people or businesses which could have failed in their duty of care when arranging for rubbish to be taken away. The operation was carried out alongside Birmingham City Council and waste contractor Serco, with significant quantities of dumped waste cleared from both sides of the Sandwell and Birmingham boundary. Councillor Bob Jones, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for environment and enforcement, said: "Fly-tipping is a blight on our communities and we will not stand for it in Sandwell. "This operation is about much more than clearing waste. It is about gathering evidence, identifying offenders and taking enforcement action wherever possible. "People should not think they can get away with fly-tipping in Sandwell. If your waste is found, you can expect us to investigate. Where there is evidence to support action, we will not hesitate to pursue it. "We are investing in enforcement and working closely with partner organisations to make sure those responsible are held accountable for their actions. "Our message to these criminals is simple: do not come to Sandwell." The operation forms part of the council's wider efforts to tackle fly-tipping and environmental crime across the borough.