HARTLEY Wintney held something of an eye-opening litter pick earlier this month.

Organised by the parish council, the October 8 litter pick, one of the two they do annually, was participated in by around 20 to 30 people, including some of the village’s younger residents.

However, councillors have now expressed concern at what was found throughout the morning.

After providing the teams with hi vis jackets and litter pickers, upon the debriefing - in The Waggon & Horses pub where everyone was given a free tea or coffee and bacon butty - there were numerous reports of fly tipping of both general and garden waste.

Councillor Roger Robertson said it was a “widespread” problem, adding: “It was a big disappointment in the dumping of green waste on the commons.”

Hart currently charges a small fee for green waste collection bins and this was pointed towards as a possible reason behind the large heaps of green waste found around the village.

The “unsightly” mess was also put down to the changing costs of rubbish dumps in the area.

In July it was announced as part of plans to save £1.55m in Hampshire, that a £2 per visit charge will be payable for people from outside the county, and centres will close for one day a week, while opening hours were also cut.

Residents, as of October 1, are also now being charged for non-household DIY waste including soil and rubble, which costs £2.50 to dispose, and plasterboard, which costs £10 per sheet or £6 per bag.

Hartley Wintney’s Springwell Lane site, was threatened with closure this year and now implements these changes.

In a recent letter, the executive member for environment and transport, Rob Humby, was critical of fly-tipping but did not expect to see an increase as a result of the latest household waste recycling centre rules.

Describing it as illegal and irresponsible, he said: “It’s a blight on our county and a burden on council tax payers.

“It won’t be tolerated and we will be working closely with our partners in the district and borough councils, the Environment Agency and police on a zero tolerance on fly-tipping.

“The county council foots most of the bill for dealing with fly-tipping and it’s not acceptable.”