Fly-tippers who dumped a mattress and other rubbish in a country lane have been condemned by council chiefs.
The rubbish – including a car battery, tyres and plastic packaging – was found by the side of the road between Junction 41 of the M6 and Catterlen.
A Catterlen resident discovered the rubbish.
They said: “It’s appalling. If they’ve taken the effort to drive their waste out here then why can’t they just drive it to a tip instead?”
Another villager added: “It’s a horrid sign of the times.”
Last year there were 326 incidents of fly-tipped rubbish in Eden – with a round a third of these being the equivalent of a small van load.
An Eden Council spokesman said: “Fly-tipping is a crime. Eden District Council condemns all acts of fly-tipping as irresponsible, potentially damaging to the environment and sometimes hazardous to the public.
“The investigation and removal of fly-tipping costs huge amounts of taxpayer’s money every year and the Council will pursue and prosecute offenders wherever possible.”
Nationally, the problem costs taxpayers almost £50 million to clean up every year.
A £200 fixed penalty notice can be issued by the council to anyone who is believed to have fly-tipped.
However, if prosecuted in court, offenders can be fined up to £95,000, have their vehicle seized and even go to prison.
If you see someone fly-tipping you are advised not to tackle the offender yourself.
Instead, you should take note of the time and place of the incident, the vehicle registration and description, a photograph, the type of rubbish being dumped and any other information you think is relevant.
The council will organise for the removal of fly-tipping from public land.
To report an incident, call 01768 817817, email customer.services@eden.gov.uk or use the online reporting form at www.eden.gov.uk/your-environment/street-care-and-cleaning/fly-tipping/
