00:00Fly tipping continues to be a major issue across Wales, but new figures show that one
00:06local authority hasn't prosecuted anyone for the offence in nearly a decade.
00:12Welsh Government data reveals that Brygend County Borough Council hasn't taken legal
00:15action against a single fly tipper since 2015, despite recording more than 1,500 incidents
00:21during the last financial year alone.
00:24By comparison, neighbouring councils, including Neithportalbert, have successfully taken offenders
00:29to court, securing multiple prosecutions and fines.
00:33Local councillors in Brygend say the lack of action has left many residents frustrated.
00:38Members of the area's independent group argue that fly tipping blights communities and that
00:42more needs to be done to hold offenders accountable.
00:46In response, Brygend County Borough Council says it is not ignoring the problem, but is
00:50instead focusing on prevention and education rather than punishment.
00:54A council spokesperson said officers continue to log and investigate all reports of fly
00:59tipping, but by law they must show they have tried to work with residents before issuing fines.
01:05They added that reduced resources have made it harder to take enforcement action, but their
01:09new approach is showing results.
01:11With an 18.6% drop in fly tipping and waste incidents reported since 2022, and a nearly 20%
01:17fall in household waste bags being dumped illegally.
01:21The council insists that where appropriate, it will still take enforcement action against
01:25repeat offenders who refuse to dispose of waste properly.
01:28But with more than a thousand fly tipping incidents still happening each year in the borough, some
01:34residents are questioning whether prevention alone is enough, and whether tougher penalties
01:38might be needed to stop the problem for good.
01:40James Beach Watkins, reporting for Local TV.
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