Farmers and landowners in Cheshire have been advised to secure their fields as a surge in fly-tipping incidents could mean substantial clean-up costs.

Cheshire West and Chester Council have recorded a 65 percent increase in total fly-tipping incidents over the last year, with 5731 recorded in 2020/21. This is part of a regional trend, with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) recording an increase from 115,192 to 140,220 cases across the North West over the last 12 months. Incidents on agricultural land increased year-on-year from 283 to 671.

Rupert Wailes-Fairbairn, of rural insurance broker Lycetts, said: "Although local authorities will usually pay the clean-up costs of clearing waste from public land, the responsibility for removing waste from private land falls squarely at the feet of the landowners. If they fail to do so, they can face prosecution."

Clean-up bills per incident average around £1,000, according to the National Rural Crime Network, but large-scale incidents can cost upwards of £10,000. Mr Wailes-Fairbairn said that farmers may be wise to insure against these costs.

“In some cases, farmers can be repeatedly targeted and costs can quickly escalate. Many combined farm policies, however, will cover the clean-up costs, typically capped between £10,000 and £15,000 for the insurance period."

He pointed out that environmental criminals can be more inclined to act under cover of darkness and that councils will often see a surge of incidents in January as people look to dispose of post festive waste, including Christmas trees.

"Prevention is better than cure and steps should be taken to ensure access to land and fields is restricted, where possible, with physical barriers. The installation of security cameras can also act as a deterrent and help in securing successful prosecutions."