Don't we care about our environment?

We might well ask ourselves that question after Oxfordshire County Council reported a 60 per cent rise in flytipping incidents in the past year.

It is an appalling commentary on the way we are treating our planet.

Clearly some people have no regard for their surroundings and are happy to see our countryside reduced to squalor.

The council's call for the law-abiding community to shop these desecrators of our county is a good one.

But the problem is that most are careful to do their dirty work in remote areas where no-one is watching, and they make sure they leave no evidence behind, to avoid being traced.

With an average of 16 flytipping incidents per day, our councils may need to look at whether the policy of charging to dump commercial waste is right.

Would scrapping or reducing charges cut flytipping and reduce the cost of clearing up the mess.

Some people dump their rubbish anywhere because they are too lazy to drive to the tip.

But we suspect that most offenders are rogue tradesmen trying to avoid paying for disposal.

No doubt the county council would oppose abolishing charges as it would lose money.

But there could be a considerable saving for taxpayers if district council staff were not continually clearing up rubbish from roads verges and fields.

Magistrates also need reminding that they have their part to play when flytippers are caught.

Penalties have increased to a maximum £50,000 fine or five years in prison.

In reality, offenders usually get away with fines of several hundred pounds.

In the case of cowboy builders, that is no hardship - they can simply add that sum to the bill they present to their next unsuspecting customer.

It is time to get tough on all fronts.