DOUBTS cast over a campaign to tackle the “scourge” of flytipping blighting the countryside.

Love Essex, a partnership of councils, businesses and environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, has launched the #CrimeNotToCare campaign.

The idea is to warn residents they could end up with a criminal record and face an unlimited fine for flytipping or even if a rogue trader dumps their waste illegally.

But David Smith, of Manor Road in Dovercourt, who has hit out at flytipping in Harwich and Ramsey, has raised doubts about the campaign.

He said: “Flytipping is getting worse and it’s a scourge on the area.

“Anything that can stop or slow it down must be a good thing.

“But I can’t see it will do a lot.

“On the way to Horsley Cross the other day, there were fridges dumped on a lay-by.

“Where I walk my dog off the Hanging’s behind the station, it’s a long trek to get there and there was a microwave - it beggars belief.

“Flytippers are aware what they are doing is wrong, they are taking a chance they won’t get caught.”

Earlier this year Mr Smith hit out at a “monstrous” pile of rubbish on private land in Victoria Street, Harwich, and called for more action to stop flytipping.

But he says the only way to tackle the problem is to reverse tough rules at recycling centres restricting vehicles and types of waste.

“People are being turned away from the tip and don’t want to travel to Clacton, so they dump their rubbish,” Mr Smith added.

“If they reversed the rules on what you can take to the tip and what vehicles are allowed, it would get better.

“The rules, to save money, are a false economy.”

Love Essex says flytipping in Essex is draining more than £1 million of taxpayers’ money each year, according to new figures.

In Tendring, there has been a 14per cent increase in flytipping since 2015/16.

Simon Walsh, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for environment and waste, said: “We hope #CrimeNotToCare will educate people on how to dispose of their waste correctly to ensure they don’t end up with a criminal record and a hefty fine.”

Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton added: “#CrimeNotToCare is an important campaign for our country and we are delighted that Essex County Council as part of Love Essex, is partnering with us.

“There are almost a million fly-tipping incidents in England every year. It blights communities and our countryside and is a menace.”

For more information, visit recycleforessex.com/crimenottocare.