HAMPSHIRE and Isle of Wight councils have spent more than £1.4m dealing with dumped waste in the last three years - yet there have been only 23 prosecutions, according to new statistics.

Information released from a Freedom of Information request shows councils across the county grappling with fly-tipping are forced to spend in some cases tens of thousands of pounds every year.

Numbers were highest in Southampton where the council has spent £565,856 in the last three years dealing with 19,512 reports - that is one incident of fly-tipping for every 45 residents.

Yet only on two occasions has anyone been held to account through prosecution in that time.

It appears residents in Winchester and New Forest have less rubbish eyesores to put up with than most with the lowest number of incidents per person for 2014 in the country - five per 1,000 people.

Fly-tipping incidents nationally rose in 2014/2015 to 529,462 cases, up from 527,777 the previous year - both significantly higher than in 2012/2013.

However, some councils in Hampshire seem to be bucking the trend reporting falling figures and costs including Southampton, Winchester and New Forest.

At Southampton City Council fly-tipping incidents dropped from 7,819 in 2012/2013 to 5,490 last year, with costs also dropping from £229,578 to £159,017.

However, at Eastleigh Borough Council incidents have more than doubled in three years, rising from 255 in 2012/2013 to 612 last year.

Of the councils that submitted figures, the amount spent on fly-tipping in Hampshire totals £1,434,234.

But at least five councils have not prosecuted anybody in the last three years.

This comes after the Daily Echo reported how fields in North Baddesley had been targeted by fly-tippers twice in a matter of weeks.

Part of the national rise in dumping is thought to be down to people moving house more often and the low cost of household goods.

Peter Box, the Local Government Association's environment spokesman, said local authorities were spending tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money a year on fly-tipping, which could be better spent on other services.

He called for councils to be given extra powers to issue on-the-spot fines, saving councils the expense and time of court.

A Defra spokesman said tackling fly-tipping was a priority and it plans to introduce fixed penalty notices for small scale fly-tipping.

Southampton City Council's cabinet member for environment Jacqui Rayment said the council was putting resources into dealing with fly-tipping but in many cases it was difficult to prove who had dumped the rubbish, particularly if there was nothing that would identify where it had come from and in areas of multi-house occupancy like the city centre.

She also called on the public to play its part by giving information about incidents and who was responsible.

Daily Echo:

FIGURES IN-DEPTH

  • Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council had 2,218 last year, spent £44,974 and made no prosecutions  
  • Eastleigh Borough Council had 612 reports in 2014/2015 and made one prosecution - its spending is unknown because it was part of wider budget.
  • Fareham Borough Council dealt with 338 incidents of fly-tipping last year, costing it £29,132 and made no prosecutions.
  • Havant Borough Council recorded 1,503 fly-tipping reports in 2014/2015.

It spent £23,244 and last year took people to court on 12 occasions.

  • On the Isle of Wight the council dealt with 786 incidents in 2014/2015, but has not prosecuted anyone in three years.

It spent £42,724 in 2014/2015.

  • New Forest District Council had 720 reports in 2012/, 890 in 2013, 875 in 2014, but has not prosecuted anyone in that time.

This cost the council £57,556 in 2012/2013, £72,303 in 2013/2014 and £73,955 last years.

  • Portsmouth City Council had 646 reports in 2012/2013, 1,029 in 2013/2014 and 923 in 2014/2015, costing £21,811, £45,728 and £41,457 respectively.

It made no prosecutions.

  • Rushmoor Borough Council dealt with 1,610 reports in 2012/2013, 1,570 in 2013/2014 and 1,566 in 2014/2015, spending £11,895, £15,993 and £15,596 respectively, but making no prosecutions.
  • Southampton City had 7,819 incidents in 2012/2013, 6,203 in 2013/2014 and 5,490 last year.

It spent £229,578 in 2012/2013, £177,261 in 2013/2014 and £159,017 last year and made two prosecutions in 2013/2014.

  • Winchester City Council had 664 reports in 2012, 656 in 2013 and 569 in 2014 and spent £45,879, £38,213 and £27,666 respectively, but has made no prosecutions.