FLY-TIPPING in Barnsley’s residential areas rocketed from 14 to 214 incidents in just a year, latest figures have revealed.

The alarming statistic, which accounts for 2017/18, represents a 15-fold increase on incidents collated in 2016/17 and reflects residents’ concerns about fly-tippers taking advantage of properties left derelict by absent landlords.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) contacted every local authority in England before publishing its findings, which revealed the true scale of fly-tipping across the country where 998,000 cases were reported.

Barnsley actually bucked a trend which saw many local authorities’ data rising, with its 3,746 incidents representing a 13 per cent reduction on the previous year’s 4,328, but those relating to residential, industrial and white goods increased heavily in 2017/18.

Waste dumped residentially - a major problem in areas of absent landlords such as Oldroyd Avenue, Grimethorpe increased by a staggering 1,428 per cent while industrial-related tipping almost trebled.

Household waste reduced from 2,584 to 2,067, although asbestos dumping which is costlier for the council due to it requiring specialist equipment to recover trebled from 14 to 45.

Flytipping campaigner and Little Houghton parish councillor Kevin Osborne said: “I have a lot of sympathy with Barnsley Council because of what they face, but magistrates simply have to give out tougher punishments to fly-tippers who are caught blighting this borough.

“The council has an online reporting tool but it says cases have been cleared when in reality fly-tipping is still there. The cost is enormous and that money could be spent on vital services.”

Coun Roy Miller, cabinet spokesman, said fly-tipping continues to present a ‘significant problem’ for the council.

“It costs the taxpayer thousands of pounds each year which could be spent on other services,” he said. “We’re continuing the fight against fly-tippers in Barnsley by making good use of technology and CCTV, social media and enforcement powers.

“Nationally and locally, fly-tipping continues to be a significant problem.

“Through our #EverybodyThink campaign we continue to remind residents to think carefully about how and where they get rid of unwanted items and rubbish.

“We saw a 12 per cent reduction in fly-tipping from 2016/17 to 2017/18 when the national average was a one per cent reduction.

“Figures currently show Barnsley has a two per cent reduction this year from the same point last year, so we are moving in the right direction.

“We’d like to encourage people to keep supporting our efforts by reporting fly-tipping and sharing our social media messages, together we can make a difference and change behaviour.

“Fly-tipping in Barnsley can be reported online at barnsley.gov.uk/flytipping.”