A VALE councillor has said that flytippers who have been dumping rubbish in Dinas Powys have moved “up a notch” to becoming “dangerous”.

Conservative Vale and Community councillor Andy Robertson commented after there was a fire near Beauville Woods and rubbish was dumped within a few feet of the burnt out fire.

The councillor said: “The ashes from a pretty substantial fire are still there. Had the fire services not attended, the whole wood could have caught alight. A nearby tree was scorched up to 20ft in the air with everything around brittle dry due to the recent hot spell.

“Flytippers around Dinas Powys have moved up a notch from uncaring, cheap-skate little louts to dangerous.

“We certainly don’t want to penalise innocent people enjoying the countryside, but I would suggest we are all that much more vigilant and report any incidents immediately, particularly if we recognise any of the dumped material. 

“Perhaps we should look at seriously increasing the penalties when people are caught, but we need the public’s help in catching the perpetrators.” 

The councillor said he will be taking the matter further.

Colin Smith, Vale council operational manager for neighbourhood services and transport, said: “The area in question is privately-owned land so responsibility for removing the waste lies with the landowner. 

“However, council enforcement officers will work with the landowner to address the situation and if relevant undertake the necessary prosecution. Fly-tipping is a crime and anyone found to be committing this type of offence could face serious consequences.

"These include being issued with a fixed penalty notice, prosecution, fines of up to £50,000 or even imprisonment.”