NOT a single person was issued with an ‘on-the-spot’ fine in the Test Valley area for fly-tipping during the first year of the new penalty coming into effect, new figures have revealed.

The powers, which were introduced in May 2016, allow councils around the country to issue fixed penalty notices (FPN) worth between £150 and £400 for anyone caught dumping their rubbish.

Figures have shown that Test Valley Borough Council did not issue any FPNs in the 12 months to May 8, along with Southampton City Council, Winchester City Council and Fareham Borough Council.

New Forest District Council issued one FPN worth £300, while figures for Eastleigh Borough Council were not available.

Brighton and Hove Council issued the largest amount in the country with 276 given out, pulling in more than £16,000.

The figures follow a number of fly-tipping incidents to hit the headlines this year, including a boat being dumped behind a charity store in Shirley.

And the news comes as Hampshire County Council floats the possibility of closing half of the county’s waste recycling centres, including the site on Bunny Lane, in a bid to save cash.

This has sparked fears of increased fly-tipping and many has blasted the council for its proposals.

Borough and county councillor Mark Cooper, Liberal Democrat ward member for Romsey, says more needs to be done to stop those fly-tipping.

“The certainty of being caught and once caught the certainty of prosecution is essential if fly tipping is to be controlled,” said Cllr Cooper.

“The trouble is that the government’s austerity programme means that some local authorities and the Hampshire Constabulary have neither the staff nor the resources to deal with the issue.

“Investing in mobile CCTV would save money in the long term. Used in known tipping locations, CCTV would soon produce a few high profile prosecutions.”

And speaking at a county council select committee last month, Lymington councillor Michael White added: “Losing our site will only result in more fly-tipping.”

However, a number of the councils have successfully prosecuted fly-tippers in the county through the law courts, include prison sentences for one person in Winchester and another in Fareham.

Responding to the figures, a Test Valley Borough Council spokeswoman said: “We investigate all reports of fly-tipping. However, it is a difficult offence to gather evidence for and is particularly challenging in rural areas where there are fewer witnesses. Where we do have enough evidence to prosecute, we are able to do so using existing environmental protection legislation.

“The council is currently considering adopting the Deposit of Waste (Fixed Penalties) Regulations, which were made available to local authorities in 2016. These regulations would enable us to issue a fixed penalty notice for fly-tipping.”