Lichfield council says 'we're closing in' on fly-tippers who blocked road with huge waste mountain
Lichfield Council has issued an urgent appeal to track down the fly-tippers who dumped a huge mountain of rubbish on a rural road. Homes and businesses were left isolated after the crooks discarded 10ft of industrial waste in Watery Lane.
Astonishing piles of waste blocked off the road after the shocking early morning incident overnight on Sunday, January 19. Now, after a massive effort to clear the mess, Lichfield District Council said the "net was closing in" on those behind the fly-tipping.
It issued an illustration of the type of vehicle suspected to have been involved in the incident - which happened between 11pm on Sunday and 12.45am on Monday. Motorists have been asked to check their dashcam footage for those times as officers try to "prosecute those responsible".
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So far, a team of environmental health officers have been searching the waste and carrying out door-to-door CCTV trawls. They now have a "number of leads to go on", said cabinet member, Coun Alex Farrell.
Coun Farrell said: “We’ve had a team of environmental health officers searching the waste and going door-to-door to obtain CCTV footage and now have a number of leads to go on. We’re asking drivers who were in the area at the times the waste was dumped to please check their dashcam footage for the type of vehicle we believe was used in the crime and share anything they have with our officers.
“If you have any information about the people or vehicles involved, or the origin of the waste, then please call us on 01543 308000. We’ve already got covert cameras out in vulnerable areas, and Lichfield District Council has a strong reputation for catching fly-tippers, seizing their vehicles and prosecuting them.
"The net is closing on these criminals and we now need your help.” The council urged any drivers in the area at the time to check their cameras.
Their appeal read: “We’re asking drivers who were in the area at the times the waste was dumped to please check their dashcam footage for the type of vehicle we believe was used in the crime and share anything they have with our officers.
"A large quantity of waste was discovered fly-tipped near the Wood End Lane entrance to Watery Lane early on Monday morning, January 20. Our officers are now determined to identify and prosecute those responsible for this crime.
"They are appealing to any motorists who were driving along Wood End Lane at around 11pm on Sunday night (19 January) or 12.45am on Monday morning to please check their dashcam footage.
"At both those times officers want to identify an HGV tipper truck that reversed off Wood End Lane and down Watery Lane before dumping the waste and then driving back onto Wood End Lane. Dashcam footage can be shared with officers via our evidence submission portal ."