A GAP between the amount of fly-tipped waste collected in Waverley compared to the Surrey county average is widening, according to new figures.

Surrey County Council has announced that 2,749 tonnes of fly-tipped rubbish was picked up by district and borough councils between April last year and January – a fall of 30 per cent on the previous 10-month period.

It means a reduction of 1,153 tonnes in the amount of fly-tipping the county council is having to get rid of – saving taxpayers £125,000 in disposal costs.

However, Waverley Borough Council has countered this with its own figures showing a nine per cent increase over the same period - from 378 to 411 tonnes, costing taxpayers an additional £4,312.

Recent examples of fly-tipping in the borough include three separate incidents near Stockbridge Pond in Tilford (pictured), all left within a week of each other in early February.

A Waverley spokesman said: “Despite the reported decrease in fly-tipping across the county, unfortunately there has been an increase in reports of fly-tipping in Waverley.

“To combat environmental crime and anti-social behaviour in the borough, including fly-tipping, the council has upgraded its powers to be able to prosecute offenders and is launching its new Joint Enforcement Initiative in spring 2017.

“An environmental protection team, which has received funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, will see officers on the ground working in partnership, to take firm action against fly-tipping to deter the offenders choosing to blight Waverley’s wonderful countryside, towns and villages with their litter. If anyone is aware of a fly-tip in the borough, they can report it by visiting www.waverley.gov.uk/reportit or by calling 01483 523524.”

Hailing the county-wide figures, Mike Goodman, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for environment and planning, said: “We weigh and measure the amount of fly-tipping that is collected by district and borough councils and the decline in waste shown by these figures translates into savings of £125,000 for Surrey taxpayers.

“Working with Surrey’s 11 districts and boroughs, we launched a concerted drive last year to crack down on fly-tipping and we will continue to work together to tackle the scourge of people illegally dumping rubbish in our stunning countryside.

“There were fears that our scheme introducing charges at community recycling centres for disposing of waste from major construction work would lead to a rise in fly-tipping but these figures show that is not the case.

“They also paint a contrasting picture to recent reports of high levels of fly-tipping in some parts of the country but we know there is more to do to combat the problem which is why we’re committed to taking coordinated action with Surrey’s other councils, supported by the Environment Agency and Surrey Police.”