CONCERNS that Bradford's Holme Wood and surrounding areas are suffering a 'fly-tipping epidemic' has led to an open meeting being arranged to come up with ideas to tackle the problem.

Back in November, government data showed that reports of fly-tipping incidents across the district had jumped up by 17.4 per cent from the previous year.

The cost of clearing up fly-tipping has also skyrocketed - increasing 85 per cent over the preceding five years.

Matt Edwards, Green Party spokesperson for Tong Ward, has called on Bradford Council to do more to get to the bottom of flytipping.

He said, "There is a flytipping epidemic in Bradford. Already this week we have reported 15 separate instances of flytipping in Holme Wood alone. The rubbish ranges from baths, mattresses and just bags of litter.

“What the Council is doing clearly isn't working and we need to really start thinking outside of the box if we want to get a proper grip of the problem.”

Mr Edwards says he is keen to point out that part of the problem in the area is the prominent derelict sites – like the site of a now demolished mill on Factory Street in Dudley Hill – which have become hotspots for fly-tipping. The land has been empty since the fire-ravaged building was demolished in 2012.

“I really can’t understand why Bradford Council isn’t using the powers it has to do more to promote sites like this for development – rather than sacrificing our valuable green spaces."

Tong & Fulneck Valley Association is hosting an open meeting and encourage people to come up with ideas to tackle the problem.

Julia McGoldrick from Tong & Fulneck Valley Association said: “Local people are fed up with the area being treated like a rubbish dump and the council unwilling to take proactive measures."

However, Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Executive Member for Healthy People & Places, said the council is doing what it can to keep the area clear of rubbish and calls the attack from the Green Party 'party political spin'.

"There’s never any excuse for fly-tipping or littering. No responsible business or household should ever dump waste, forcing their fellow taxpayers to foot the bill," she said.

"Flytipping is a criminal offence which can lead to a big fine or up to five years in prison. As anyone who reads the T&A will know we have a strong enforcement policy on flytipping and littering. We regularly prosecute people when we catch the culprits.

"As Labour councillors we regularly work with our communities across the district doing litter-picks and community clear-ups including in wards like Tong. If people want to join in with this activity, they are very welcome. It’s all our responsibility to make sure where we live is welcoming and keeping the place clean is part of that.”

Tong ward councillor, Councillor Alan Wainwright said: “I am out on the streets of Holme Wood on a regular basis, obviously over the festive period litter on the streets increases everywhere not only in Holme Wood. It should be noted that the Bradford South Clean team won the best area team in the recent Council awards.

"The Green Party fails to say how they would deal with litter on a much reduced budget. This Labour Council fines people and we encourage residents to report culprits dropping litter or flytipping.”

The meeting is on Thursday, February 7, from 7pm to 8pm at Tong Village Hall.