A FLYTIPPER who dumped a pile of cardboard rubbish at a Forest beauty spot was tracked down and hit with a £400 fixed penalty fine.

The litter found dumped at Tidenham Chase near Chepstow was reported to Forest Council environment officers who obtained information from the pile that led them to the culprit

A picture of the rubbish posted by the council, which included a cooking pot, said: “Evidence seized from this fly-tip at Tidenham Chase has led to the issue of a Fixed Penalty Notice for £400.

“There is no excuse for fly-tipping. The tip is free and operated by Gloucestershire County Council. If you are unsure of how to dispose of waste - just ask.”

Many took to social media to praise the council for tracking down and fining those responsible, although some said they should have been hit with a bigger penalty.

Christine Shalley said: “Should be at least £4,000 or stick them in jail for a month.”

Sarah French added: “Should be a £1000 fine,” while Kate Smith posted: “£400 is really insufficient as a penalty for such extensive fly-tipping and isn’t enough to act as a deterrent.”

Denis Jackson said: “Well done for catching up with them. I appreciate that £400 is the maximum penalty. It’s insufficient though, especially to commercial fly tippers.

“I don’t suppose you’re allowed to name and shame either?”

David Prince stormed: “The fine isn’t enough, it should be a £1000 fine and a three-month jail sentence.”

Vanessa Stratford thought £400 was “a joke”.

“Seize their vehicle as well!” she urged.

The council, which has put up a sign at the site reporting the fine, responded by saying that £400 was the maximum penalty they could impose.

But Aaron Freeman said: “Could do with being changed - bigger fine plus community service clearing up fly tipping for a week or two sounds fair to me. Restorative justice.”

Others were highly approving of the council’s action, Ian Macklin saying: “Great news… It could all be recycled via kerbside collection which made it seem worse.”

Julie Kirkham added: “That amount would cripple me or cause a stroke, so good enough. I really hope both the tipper and the owner of the rubbish both paid?”

Claire Price posted: “I simply don’t get how anyone can do this, clearly no morals or standards at all.”

And Christine Thomas blasted: “No excuse, most of that stuff is able to be recycled or put in a black bin!

“Plenty of places to recycle cardboard! Must be more effort loading it in the car!!”

More information about recycling and waste in the Forest can be found at www.fdean.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling.