FEARS that scaled down recycling centres would lead to increased levels of fly-tipping have been proved true.

On October 31, 2016 the centres in Chigwell and Waltham Abbey stopped taking DIY and construction waste as Essex County Council attempted to crack down on illegal dumping. Commercial vehicles were also banned.

Despite Waltham Abbey Town Council arguing this would lead to ‘unprecedented’ levels of fly-tipping, in August 2017 Cllr Simon Walsh, cabinet member for environment at Essex County Council, said there was ‘no evidence’ of this.

A report published by Epping Forest District Council directly refutes Cllr Walsh, arguing that ‘there appears to be a link between the increase in fly-tips and new restrictions imposed on the Recycling Centres for Household Waste’.

While the analysis is simple and based on recent trends, and the link may have been evident to the many residents affected by fly-tipping in the last two years, it is the first time the council has officially accepted the link.

Paul Morris, a Loughton based builder who started a campaign calling for an extra dump in Epping Forest, said: “I think it has been obvious to most people the direct correlation between their change of policy and the increase of fly tipping.

“However, the council’s refusal to admit a problem highlights just how out of touch they are with the real issues and impacts their decisions make to the residents of the district and county.

“Following the report a retraction of Mr Walsh’s statements would be in order and an admittance now the problem needs to be assessed and dealt with.”

In the past three years there has been a 38 per cent increase in the number of recorded fly tips in Epping Forest, from 1,683 in 2015/16 to 2,338 in 2017/18.

This has resulted in seven prosecutions in 2017 and saw Epping Forest become the second most fly tipped area in the county.

While some of the increase may be due to stricter recycling centre rules, the council believes prolific, repeat offenders who operate on Gumtree have swollen the figures by targeting Stapleford Abbotts as a dumping site.

Council lawyers are hopeful of securing a procession soon.

Cllr Walsh said the county council worked closely with district councils, the Environment Agency and police to crack down on fly tippers.

He added: “We disagree that there is direct link between the increase in fly-tipping and the restrictions introduced at Recycling Centres.

“The rise in fly tipping in the Epping Forest District has been an issue over many years, and pre-dates the changes implemented at the Recycling Centres. In fact the trend is almost identical to other parts of the country where rogue traders fly-tip waste to avoid the cost of legal waste disposal.

“We believe reintroducing the old Recycling Centre rules is not the answer and we need a more coordinated approach. We will continue to support and work with Epping Forest District Council to tackle this scourge on our neighbourhoods. Hopefully together we can turn what their report says is a simple analysis of fly-tipping in Epping into a more thorough review of the fly-tipping in the area.”