Pembrokeshire County Council is waging war on fly-tippers.

The Authority is trying to encourage people to come forward with information leading to successful enforcement action against individuals by offering a £100 reward.

From Monday (March 2) a dedicated email address will be been set up by the Council to enable members of the public to reports incidents of fly tipping 24 hours a day.

The email address is: [email protected]

Also available from Monday, 2nd March (during office hours only) is the phone number 01437 775253.

“Fly-tipping has been a long-term problem for many local authorities throughout the country and we in Pembrokeshire are determined to tackle it,” said the Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cris Tomos.

“We are enlisting the help of the general public and encouraging them not only to report incidents of fly-tipping but to pass on any details they can about the perpetrators.

“This will enable us not only to clear the dumped material quickly and efficiently but hopefully help us to identify the culprits.”

Clr. Tomos said the Authority had formed a special team in-house to deal with the fly-tipping menace.

He explained: “They have the power to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to those who transgress which carry a penalty of £350 - reduced to £180 if paid within ten days.

“However this is only for small scale issues and major problems will still be dealt with through the courts

“If the person refuses to pay then we will escalate the matter to the courts. If a conviction is secured, then that person will be tarred with a criminal record.”

Clr. Tomos revealed that the Authority would also be utilising covert CCTV cameras located at specific fly-tipping hotspots which have been identified within the county.

He went on: “There is no excuse for fly-tipping. It not only blights the countryside but is a danger to the public, our wildlife and the wider environment and is costly to clear-up.

“It is the scourge of modern society and we want to send the message that it will not be tolerated in Pembrokeshire and that those who offend will be punished,” he continued, also warning householders to be aware that they had a duty of care for their waste and that simply handing it onto another person to dispose of did not absolve them of their responsibility.

“The public need to use registered waste carriers, and be satisfied that they are disposing of waste legitimately.

“Failure to do so, may in certain cases lead to their actions being investigated,”?he added.