In the last fortnight, councillors from the Bushey Liberal Democrats have visited several fly-tip sites in and around Bushey, following complaints from residents.

Three are off the A41, another is on Hilfield Lane South, while two are in Berry Grove Lane. The party, which fears fly-tipping is on the rise locally, says all of the sites have been reported to Hertsmere Borough Council.

Bushey North councillor Paul Richards said: "These sites are extremely unpleasant - rotting household appliances, building debris, cables, tyres, and even a toilet, all dumped among trees and vegetation. It’s not just unsightly but harmful for the environment and dangerous for wildlife".

Rubbish found just off the A41. Credit: Bushey Lib Dems

A dumped fridge in Hilfield Lane South. Credit: Bushey Lib Dems

Cllr Richards has suggested Bushey’s location on the edge of London makes his area more prone to fly-tipping.

He said: "Fly-tipping is a very difficult issue to tackle, but we believe that Bushey - and, in fact, much of Hertsmere - is particularly vulnerable to this vile problem. We’re just outside London and criss-crossed by major roads such as the M1 and A41 but we also have an abundance of quiet fields, lanes, and woodlands. That combination is very attractive to illegal dumpers.

"That means we deserve extra support and funding from central government and other agencies, to help pay for clean-ups and install anti-dumping measures at fly-tip hotspots, for example, lay-bys and lane-ends. These include CCTV, warning signs, and - where feasible - physical barriers, such as gates and banked earth.

"We recommend to Oliver Dowden, Hertsmere MP, that he puts the case to the Environment Agency and the Department of Communities and Local Government."

More example of fly-tipping found recently in Berry Grove Lane and off the A41, including a duvet. Credit: Bushey Lib Dems

Cllr Richards also says that residents can help avoiding "cowboy" waste removal firms.

He said: "If you hire a 'man with a van' to take away your household rubbish, check they’re registered with the Environment Agency and always ask them to explain how they're disposing of your waste.

"That helps avoid falling prey to a cowboy outfit who’ll dump your rubbish in a lay-by. You can also arrange for Hertsmere council to remove bulky items, for a small fee.

"We’re also calling on Hertfordshire County Council to review their policies for household recycling centres, like the one at Elstree. Their rules on trailers, building waste and number of visits may be deterring residents from disposing of their own waste and so end up using an unscrupulous operator instead.”

The county council did announce last week that three of its biggest recycling centres, including Waterdale, would be open seven days a week from mid-May.

Oliver Dowden’s office was approached for thoughts on the Bushey Liberal Democrats’ recommendation.