FLY-TIPPING is again becoming a blot on the landscape in Comet country. The hot spots for fly-tipping are the country lanes around our towns and the worst is in Old Knebworth Lane where dumping has been a problems for many years. One large area of woodlan

FLY-TIPPING is again becoming a blot on the landscape in Comet country.

The hot spots for fly-tipping are the country lanes around our towns and the worst is in Old Knebworth Lane where dumping has been a problems for many years.

One large area of woodland is currently littered with household garbage, black dustbin bags, a broken bed, a mattress and rotting material as well as the normal builder's rubbish.

Further up the lane, bricks have been left in the hedge as well as broken tiles.

It is estimated it is costing North Herts District Council (NHDC) and Stevenage Borough Council SBC) over �70,000 a year to clear up the rubbish left by fly-tippers.

An NHDC spokesman said: "The cost of clearing up the mess left by fly-tippers means less money for vital facilities and services.

"Fly-tipping covers everything from dumping one black sack to multiple loads of construction waste. It can lead to large fines and even a prison sentence. The council has had a number of successful prosecutions recently and the fines are rising. The last offender had to pay �1,550."

NHDC says it is committed to clearing up fly-tipping incidents within 24 hours as operational times allow. The spokesman added: "Fly-tipping incidents are not increasing but the number of prosecutions is going up.

"We are proud of our local countryside and we will do everything we can to catch offenders, using a variety of methods including hidden cameras."

A spokesman for SBC said: "There is a problem with dumped skip bags such as Hippo Bags. Leaving these bags uncollected on the road or in any public place is fly-tipping and we will investigate it as such.

"Although to date there have been no prosecutions, there are a number of cases currently being investigate which may result in court action.