A report of fly-tipping has sparked an investigation after a Newcastle City Council van was spotted near a pile of dumped rubbish in Ashington, Northumberland. Photos taken at the scene appear to show the council van parked next to a pile of rubbish on the corner of Boiler Road and Castle Island Way.
The incident occurred on 10 June, just yards from the local tip. Northumberland County Council has confirmed that inquiries are ongoing, and Newcastle City Council is understood to be supporting the investigation.
A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed his disgust at the incident, stating that dumping rubbish at the nature site was 'appalling'. The resident noted that the tip is only 100 yards up the road and that the area is popular with dog walkers and horse riders.
Newcastle City Council has a 'zero-tolerance' approach to fly-tipping, with a high number of prosecutions for waste crimes. In the 11 years up to March 2025, the council carried out 1,869 prosecutions and issued 2,418 fixed penalty notices, resulting in over £800,000 worth of fines.