A CLAMPDOWN on fly-tipping and illegal waste disposal saw 30 vehicles stopped and searched in Bream and Mitcheldean and one seized.

Forest of Dean Council environmental and community engagement officers worked alongside Gloucestershire Police officers in the bid to identify rogue traders.

The seized vehicle had no tax or insurance, while another three drivers were given warnings for not carrying the required documentation.

Three fixed penalty notices will be issued that relate to not being licensed and not having waste transfer documentation.

Police stopped lorries and vans that were potentially carrying trade waste and conducted vehicle checks, while Forest council officers interviewed drivers about any rubbish they were carrying to determine whether they were acting within the law.

Where necessary, officers investigated whether drivers were registered and licensed and were carrying the appropriate documentation, as well as providing advice and information. 

Cllr Chris McFarling, Forest Cabinet Member for Environment, Wildlife, Heritage and Culture, said: “Ensuring businesses are correctly licensed to carry waste and have the correct documentation plays a critical role in the prevention of fly tipping across our beautiful district.

“Not only are we committed to helping them comply with their legal requirements whilst ensuring we deal with offenders in an appropriate manner, we are also keen to send out the message that fly-tipping is a wholly unacceptable blight on our communities and the natural environment.”

The Environment Agency is responsible for issuing licences to waste carriers.