The dramatic increase in fly tipping in specific hotspots across the Borough has resulted in a call for action by the Liberal Democrats on the Council, with a motion to the March meeting calling on the Council to show whether current measures are actually effective.

Shaw Councillor Hazel Gloster said: “This has got beyond a nuisance; there are criminal gangs who are taking advantage, in particular of the ‘grey market’ around house clearance, and it is local residents who are suffering.

“People from every part of the town suffer, and as these gangs look for isolated spots in which to tip the waste, it is often the most picturesque parts of the town that suffer.

“While the Council teams are very good at clearing fly-tipping once it is happened, we need to know that this is being stopped at source, both by successful prosecutions, and by information and education to make sure residents and businesses know what their rights and responsibilities are.”

As well as calling for an annual report that details the spending on all aspects of fly tipping, its causes and the effectiveness of the campaigns, it also calls on the Council to back changes to the legislation, making it easier to prosecute illegal tipping, and for money raised through prosecutions to go into cleaning up.

Saddleworth West and Lees Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani added: “At the moment, the fly tippers are taking advantage, and it is council tax payers who are picking up the bill. That needs to change, and the Council needs to demand that in response to the current national consultation on this.

“I want more powers to prosecute these gangs, and I want to make sure that they pick up as much of the bill for this as possible. Everyone in Oldham has seen the shameful mess that this causes, and they shouldn’t be forced to pick up the bill. Let’s make sure that the people who are causing it do.”