RESIDENTS of West Devon are being urged to act responsibly, following an increase in fly tipping which is causing an eyesore at local beauty spots.

It was feared that incidents of fly tipping would rise when charges were introduced at Devon's recycling centres.?The number of fly tipping incidents increased by 13% in West Devon on last year and 24% in the South Hams.

But a West Devon Borough Council spokesperson said this week that West Devon has low levels of fly tipping when compared with national averages.

From April 1, any soil or rubble brought to recycling centres has been charged at £2 a bag, £2 per tyre, £7 per bag, or sheet, of plasterboard and £20 per bag, or sheet, of asbestos.

Devon County Council is expected to save in excess of £1-million by introducing the charges which is what it cost the authority to dispose of non-household waste across Devon in 2009/10.

But the borough and district councils, which are responsible for removing fly tipping, will pick up the extra costs if waste is dumped in the countryside. The average cost of collecting the fly tips is approximately £5,000 a year in West Devon.

Head ranger for Dartmoor National Park Rob Steemson said there had been an increase in fly tipping on the moor, most noticeably at Roborough Down.

'People dump tyres, builders' rubble which occasionally includes asbestos which is particularly dangerous, and sometimes glass — a lot of the stuff that is not allowed to be dumped in tips anymore without a charge.

'We have an incident at the moment where about 100 tyres have been dumped at Brisworthy Plantation between Burrator and Cadover Bridge.'

Mr Steemson urged people to be responsible: 'There are still places where you can take along these items legally to relevant waste control areas and not spoil our lovely countryside and particularly the national park.'

Maristow Estates manager Jo Hess said he had feared there would be a proliferation of tipping once charging came in and the statistics were proving those fears were not unfounded.

'There is a visual, environmental and financial cost to this,' he said. 'I have seen more fly tipping recently and the authorities clearly like landowners to assist where possible but there is not a never-ending budget for unknown levels of fly tipping.'

'The vast majority of people are responsible and dispose of waste through appropriate means like recycling centres — regrettably they have to pay for it — but unfortunately there is also a rogue element that continues to use Dartmoor as a dumping ground.'

Wayne Southall, Tavistock Town Council's works superintendent, in his report to the council's properties committee this week, said there had been an increase in fly tipping in the Pixon Lane area and Whitchurch Down.

A borough council spokesman said: 'We have seen a 13% increase in fly tipping so far in this financial year and all Devon districts are monitoring the fly tips to see if they consist of chargeable items.

'Early indications are that there is a slight increase in these chargeable items being illegally tipped in the borough.

'Clearly, fly tipping can only be accurately assessed over a period of several months and we regularly discuss these fly tipping trends with Devon County Council.'

A county council spokesman said: 'Fly tipping figures vary month on month and our records show that although incidents in West Devon have marginally risen some months, they have also decreased in others so it is impossible to say with any degree of confidence whether the introduction of charges has led to an increase in fly tipping.

'Thankfully, by far the majority are good, law abiding people who will continue to dispose of their waste responsibly. However, we will continue to monitor the situation with our district colleagues as there are a minority of people who feel it is okay to fly-tip.'