CCTV cameras have been deployed in rural areas plagued with fly-tipping across Bracknell Forest, as a councillor has accused the authority’s leaders of ‘not prioritising’ the issue.

Bracknell Forest councillor John Harrison, ward member for Binfield North and Warfield West, has pushed for more action to be taken to tackle the issue in countryside areas including Warfield and Winkfield.

Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste, monitored by both police and the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) across Berkshire.

The councillor asked for an update on the situation at a recent full council meeting at Bracknell Forest Council on Wednesday, September 11.

Councillor Harrison said: “Following yet another occurrence of waste being fly-tipped in Wellers’ Lane in Warfield, will the executive member responsible please update the council on how many new CCTV installations to deter this crime have been made since the council last passed a resolution on fly tipping?”

Councillor Jeffries, in charge of public protection, then confirmed that six mobile cameras were deployed in July this year following reports of four incidents.

The executive member continued: “Following this deployment, no incidents of fly tipping were reported in a four-week period. However, a further fly tipping incident in August is under investigation.”

On August 8 the PPP were called to Wellers Lane to look into a fly-tipping incident of breeze blocking materials, roofing materials, and household waste. Evidence uncovered shows the waste originated from Staines, Middlesex.

Councillor Jeffries also said that the PPP had secured a new mobile CCTV unit which will be deployed in ‘hot spot’ areas. This comes after councillor Harrison, who was the executive member for public protection in the previous conservative administration, attempted to pass a motion in July 2023 that would spend leftover council money on more cameras.

But he was ‘extremely disappointed’ as Labour members put forward a motion that he considered ‘doesn’t actually give any commitment to do anything that’s not already happening’.

Councillor Purnell, who seconded the amendment, argued that CCTV cameras were only ‘one park of the puzzle’ and that deploying more would not necessarily help.

A second amendment proposed by councillor Smith was then approved, which agreed the authority would look into the most cost-effective way of tackling fly-tipping, including whether to buy cameras.

However, they said they would only consider paying for this if the council had money left over at the end of the financial year, March 2024. But the council ended up overspending by £1.25 million.

The new CCTV cameras for the area were secured through funding from Thames Valley’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber, according to councillor Harrison.

Speaking after the meeting, the member said the executive’s response was ‘okay’ given the budget circumstances facing them, but said the executive have ‘not prioritised’ the issue.