Exeter MP issues warning over growing fly-tipping threat in Stoke Woods

Exeter MP Steve Race has called on the Government to do more to tackle commercial fly-tipping in Stoke Woods after residents raised growing concerns about waste being dumped in the ancient woodland.

Mr Race, who regularly speaks with residents during door-to-door visits, said people living in the Stoke Hill area had repeatedly reported illegal dumping in and around the protected Site of Special Scientific Interest on the northern edge of the city. 

He told Parliament that “dodgy cowboy operators” posing as legitimate waste collectors were making money by dumping rubbish in the countryside.

The Labour MP said the scale and nature of the waste made clear this was not everyday domestic fly-tipping, but organised operators exploiting gaps in enforcement. 

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He asked ministers what action was being taken to disrupt the business model behind commercial waste crime and remove the financial incentives for offenders.

In response, the Government highlighted increased support for the Environment Agency, which is responsible for tackling waste crime. 

Funding for enforcement has risen by 50 per cent this year to £15.6 million, including the creation of a new economic crime unit aimed at cracking down on organised groups involved in illegal dumping.

Mr Race has previously joined Environment Agency officers on the Exeter Quay to discuss wider environmental pressures affecting the city’s extensive network of parks, waterways and green spaces — one of the largest in any UK city.

Speaking after raising the issue in Parliament, he said: “When I’m out and about in Exeter, residents often talk to me about the appalling fly-tipping that happens in the countryside around the city, including in Stoke Woods.” 

“This isn’t about individuals not using the tip; it’s about cowboy operators posing as legitimate businesses, making money out of illegal dumping.”

Adding to this, Steve said: “Commercial fly-tipping is a scourge, and I’m glad that this Government is cracking down on these criminals, including by giving more powers to local authorities to clear up the mess and to find and prosecute those responsible.”

He also urged residents to ensure they use licensed waste carriers, warning that unregistered collectors are often the source of illegal tipping: “Everyone has a duty to make sure they’re using one of the many legitimate waste management companies we have in our area. You can check a company’s waste carrier registration on the Environment Agency website.”