Fly-tipping is on the rise in one Merseyside borough after the country went into lockdown over coronavirus.
Wirral Council said it has received a “marked increase” in the number of reports of illegal fly tipping since the lockdown began on Monday, March 23.
The council said it understands locals are struggling to manage their waste during the lockdown, but added it is taking a tough line on fly-tipping and will prosecute those responsible.
The council’s statement read: “Fly-tipping will never be tolerated, but even less so at this time when all available resources are concentrated on keeping essential services going.”
The council said people appear to be having more rubbish clear outs and doing more DIY during the lockdown.
But they said people could still dispose of waste properly through kerbside collections or hold on to it until the crisis ends- adding coronavirus is not an excuse to tip illegally.
If you see someone fly-tipping, Wirral Council advises you to:
- Take vehicle registration details
- Note the date, time, location and your view of the incident (e.g clear view, distance from you)
- Take a description of what waste you have seen being dumped
- Take a description of the people dumping the waste
- If you can do safely, use a camera phone or camera
- Don’t approach anyone who you see fly tipping
Today, another three deaths were registered at Wirral University Teaching Hospital Trust, taking the total death toll in the borough to 22.
19 more deaths were recorded in Liverpool, taking the total number of deaths from coronavirus in the city to 40.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is said to be ‘under the weather’ with coronavirus and Health Secretary Matt Hancock has described his experience of the virus.
He said it is like having “glass in my throat”, adding that he has suffered sleepless nights and lost half a stone in weight.
