Local Lib Dem District Councillors Bob Hale & Mike Shand are fuming after a fly tipping incident in a leafy lane in Fordingbridge. Marl Lane, much used by local walkers, was the scene of the incident where a lorry load of household rubbish was dumped in the lane completely obstructing an access gate. A contractor working for New Forest District Council quickly cleared the area but at a cost to local council tax payers.

Fly tipping incidents like this are on the increase across the country as rogue commercial companies and even some residents seek to avoid land fill charges to dispose of large accumulations of household rubbish. In some areas the situation is so bad that councils have set up CCTV cameras in tipping black spots to try and catch the culprits.

"If people think they are going to get away with this sort of thing then they have got another think coming" was the response from Bob Hale.

"Both Mike Shand and myself will not put up with these people assaulting our local environment in this way.

I know that a combination of local information and some investigative work by council officers has given us some early leads on who has been involved in this incident.

I am very hopeful of a prosecution and as local councillors we will be making sure that the book is thrown at the people who did this."

Cllr Hale went on to say: "Unfortunately the situation is not helped by some local residents themselves. A tiny number of people who live around these more remote areas believe its okay to wheel out their garden rubbish, grass cuttings and even Christmas trees and dump them in the hedgerows and alongside footpaths.

It isn't! Anyone caught doing this will face the same consequences as those behind larger incidences. There is no excuse as the council provides free disposal facilities at Somerley tip or a home collection service for some garden refuse at a charge."