Major fly-tipping incident cleared within 48 hours thanks to swift council action & local residents reporting.
Wednesday 2 April 2025 · Pilton, Somerset
A large illegal dump of roofing tiles along a bridle way in Pilton was reported, investigated, and cleared in under two days — with an MP on the scene to personally thank the workers.
On Tuesday 1 April, at around 8.40am, a significant amount of rubbish was discovered dumped along the bridle way between Copse Lane and Mount Pleasant in Pilton. The scale of the fly-tip — which included enough roofing tiles to suggest an entire roof had been discarded — prompted an immediate report to Somerset Council via the council’s website, as well as an alert to local horse riders and walkers to take care in the area.
The incident was escalated by Cllr Claire Sully, the local councillor for the area, directly to Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, the lead member holding the portfolio that covers enforcement and the environmental crime team. Within 24 hours, enforcement officers had visited the site to gather evidence and begin a formal investigation.
By the morning of Thursday 2 April — just 48 hours after the tip was first reported — eight Somerset Council workers had cleared the entire site. The operation required a 7.5-tonne truck and a 3.5-tonne truck to remove the waste, with eight workers completing the job in approximately one hour. The rubbish is being taken to Castle Cary for sorting before being transported on to Bristol.
Local residents and those in the surrounding area played a vital role in the investigation, coming forward promptly with information that is helping enforcement officers build their case. That investigation is now actively under way.
“I have a keen interest in enforcement having teeth, and in those responsible for this crime being brought to book.” — Cllr Claire Sully, on attending the clear-up site
Tessa Munt MP joined Cllr Claire Sully, taking time from her busy schedule on 2 April to visit the site and personally thank the Somerset Council workers involved in the clean-up. She has indicated she will continue to follow up on the case as it progresses through the enforcement process.
If you have any information about this incident, please contact the environmental crime team at Somerset Council.
Click here for facebook live video of Tessa and Claire at the scene of the illegal dump in Pilton.
Residents would be more likely to check camera footage if you publish a time line!
ie; time discovered, time path was known to be clear prior to the incident, this would reduce wasting time looking through unnecessary footage, along with a plan showing dump site and roads that may have been used to access the location
I have published what we know:
On Tuesday 1 April, at around 8.40am was when it was first reported (at the start of my article)
Dumped along the bridle way between Copse Lane and Mount Pleasant in Pilton (in the article)
There is not other details, there is evidence provided by residents, but I can’t publish that for obvious reasons because it’s part of the investigation. Therefore assume March 31st the night before the fly tipping.
Thank you for your interest Drew.