Flytipping, the most appalling scourge of our beautiful countryside, seems to be on the increase again.

The number of worn out tyres, battered old fridges and bags of rubble left in gateways near me suggest the problem is as bad as it’s ever been.

So, what’s changed to make this small, but thoroughly obnoxious, collection of scumbags revert to type and start dumping anything they don’t want anywhere they see fit?

Firstly, I suspect the issue sadly falls way down the list of priorities for our hard-pressed police force as they’re far too busy with politically correct crimes or policing themselves.

Secondly, and to my mind key to this issue, is the change in attitude of the powers-to-be responsible for setting regulations at our local tips (recycling centres).

Leaving aside the absurd booking system, introduced as a result of Covid, which has been retained by hi-vis wearing jobsworths who revel in the control it gives them over members of the public, some of the regulations introduced have become so petty even right-minded, conscientious folk are being restricted from using them.

The tips have introduced, and hiked up, charges for dumping perfectly reasonable, inert items, like garden soil and hardcore. The cost per bag for hardcore is particularly ridiculous when you realise the material you deposit at the tip can then be sold on.

Sadly these charges for disposing of waste responsibly, combined with the relatively slim chance of flytippers being caught means the detritus of society feel it is worth the risk of slinging huge quantities of garbage out of the back of a van into some poor farmer’s field.

The solution, for me, then is clear – make it easier and more cost-effective for people to dispose of their waste correctly and, at the same time, increase the penalties for those found flytipping to a point where they act as a real deterrent.

I was told this week crime in Abu Dhabi is incredibly low, perhaps for obvious reasons.

Now, I know we haven’t removed criminals’ hands in this country for many years and I’m not suggesting this is the answer, but maybe a sensible period of working in the community under suitable supervision would be in order for some of these anti-social idiots.

I’d be interested to know if you’ve witnessed a rise in flytipping in your local area? And, if so, what you think should be done to deter such behaviour?