Fly-tipping is a 'disgraceful day to day' problem

FLY-TIPPING in Gateshead is a “day to day” problem and “disgraceful” scourge, but council bosses have pledged millions to tackle the problem.

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Gateshead Council bosses have signed off their commitment to keep Gateshead’s streets clean and tackle fly-tipping throughout the borough.

It is a problem which council officers say is a drain on resources and often distracts from other work.

The council's budget for environmental services was slashed from £13.1m in 2010 to just £6.5m by 2023.

The last two years however, have seen an increase in funding, with an extra £2.7m allocated to improve Gateshead’s environment.

The Journal went to a fly-tipping cleanup operation in the back streets of Howe Street off Sunderland Road. According to council workers, the street had only been visited for fly-tipping three weeks ago.