A WEST Devon landowner is threatening offenders with court action, following a huge incident of fly-tipping on Dartmoor. The latest offence was committed at Brisworthy Wood, near Ringmoor Down to the south of Meavy. Around three large skiploads of rubbish was dumped in an open car park, causing an eyesore and a hazard to grazing animals. Joe Hess, Maristow estates manager, said fly-tipping was anti-social and cost a ?huge? amount of money to tackle. He warned Maristow Estates was taking a hard line with offenders. ?The key message is, where there is evidence, with the help of the Environment Agency, we will prosecute,? said Mr Hess. ?Fly-tipping is a huge problem. In the last three months we?ve probably had half a dozen to a dozen incidents and they are serious in their nature. ?In recent weeks we?ve had the usual garden waste but we?ve also had some much more serious incidents. ?We had a huge amount of glass just dumped on the moor, which was incredibly dangerous, there was stock all around it and it?s an area where children play close by. ?We?ve also had car batteries, carpets ? in one incident somebody even set fire to it.? Ella Bryans, Dartmoor Ranger, said fly-tipping was a ?terrible problem? in her sector of the moor. She said: ?It?s a huge issue and for landowners, like Maristow Estates, it?s very costly,? Ms Bryans said the incident at Brisworthy Wood resembled an entire house clearance. ?There were four mattresses, two sofas, TVs, bicycles, fuel containers, wood and metal ? it was absolutely unbelieveable.? A spokesman for the Environment Agency said prosecutions for fly-tipping were made whenever possible. ?We do look to the public to help us with facts and evidence wherever possible and to alert us to incidents of fly-tipping as quickly as possible,? he said. ?And up until now, landowners were left with the bill for fly-tipping, but under new legislation coming in, they will be able to pursue and recover costs when offenders are brought to court, so it?s making fly-tipping more of a risky business.? In addition, under the new Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act, which comes into force on November 21, householders will have a duty of care to ensure that rubbish is taken from their homes by a registered waste collector. The act is intended to send out the message that fly-tipping will not be tolerated. Local authorities and the Environment Agency are being given extra powers to investigate waste offences and to allow them to stop, search and seize vehicles being used for fly-tipping ? the maximum penalty has also risen from £20,000 to £50,000. l Members of the public witnessing incidents of fly-tipping should call the Environment Agency?s hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
