Countryfile: Tom Heap discusses increase in UK fly tipping

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And Daniel Kawczynski, Tory MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, said action was desperately needed – largely as a result of “selfish” litterbugs “with no manners”. Mr Sunak will unveil his financial strategy for 2021 during an eagerly awaited statement in the House of Commons tomorrow.

With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic estimated to have cost the Treasury roughly £300billion last year, speculation is rife Mr Sunak will increase Corporation Tax above its current rate of 19 pence in the pound to help balance the books.

However, Mr Kawczynski emphasised the importance of keeping up appearances.

He told Express.co.uk: “As we lift lockdown it appears to me we need a major spring clean of our community.

“I am writing to the Chancellor on this issue as many of our local roads and pavements are covered in litter.

“As we leave behind this year-long nightmare many will want to enjoy the outdoors with families and friends

“Our communities are littered with trash from selfish people with no manners.

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“Now we need financial support.

“Build back better should also include maintenance!”

Figures released last month by the Department of Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs (Defra) suggested during 2019/2020 local authorities dealt with nearly one million fly-tipping incidents, up two percent compared with the previous year.

The most commonplace for fly-tipping to occur was on pavements and roads, which accounted for over two fifths (43 percent) of total incidents in 2019/20.

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In 2019/20, the number of highway incidents was 419,000, an increase of six percent from 396,000 in 2018/19.

Commenting, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: “The fact that more than a third of all fly-tips (34 percent) are small-van size shows that this environmental crime is being driven by ‘man with a van’ operators who are conning the public with what appears to be a cheap way of getting rid of their rubbish, but one that leads to illegal disposal and environmental devastation.”

In a House of Commons adjournment debate in October, Mr Kawczynski’s Tory colleague Paul Bristow, suggested fly-tipping had become more socially acceptable during lockdown.

Mr Bristow, MP for Peterborough, proposed several possible explanations, ranging from the cost of proper waste disposal, facilities being “difficult to access”, and what he termed a “lazy and selfish attitude”.

He added: “I would add a fourth driver to that – acceptability. When people regularly see fly-tips, some people think it’s acceptable.

“Almost half of recorded fly-tips are on pavements and roads, and these are often the copy-cat offenders.

“Certain locations become hotspots, where fly-tipping becomes the norm.”

During the same debate, junior environment minister Rebecca Pow said fly-tipping was one of the most common complaints which she dealt with.

She added: Lockdown has highlighted how much we value our green space and our nature.”

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