THE number of reports of fly-tipping in the borough has rocketed by 65 per cent in a year, according to figures obtained by The Messenger.

The figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, show people made more than 2,300 reports of fly-tipping to Trafford Council between August 2020 and July 2021.

This is up 65 per cent on the 1,420 reports of fly-tipping in the previous 12 months.

Despite a rise in fly-tipping reports, the number of fines issued for the crime – defined as dumping waste on land not licensed for it – is low.

Fewer than 30 fixed penalties were issued to fly-tippers between August 2020 and July 2021, although this is up on the previous 12 months when no fixed penalties were issued.

No prosecutions have been made for fly-tipping in the borough in the last three years.

Responding to the figures, a spokesperson for Trafford Council suggested a possible link between the rise in fly-tipping reports and the successive lockdowns due to coronavirus.

They also highlighted the range of initiatives introduced to slow and reverse the rise.

They said: "Trafford Council is aware of the increase in fly-tipping from 2019, which is possibly linked to Covid and the various lockdowns.

"We have implemented a series of initiatives to combat the increase. These include the establishment of a fly-tipping action group, new CCTV equipment to cover fly-tipping hotspots, the setting up of a fly-tipping hotline and an increase in the fly-tipping fixed penalty notice charge from £150 to £400."

According to the spokesperson, Trafford Council is increasing the number of fly-tipping investigations, with more than 120 of them ongoing.

They appealed to people to continue to make reports of fly-tipping if and when possible.

"We will take action," the spokesperson said.

Anyone with information about fly-tipping is asked to call the fly-tipping hotline on 0161 912 4152, or to email flytipping@trafford.gov.uk.