Going, going, gone! Merton Council’s Environmental Enforcement Team crushed a seized lorry used for fly tipping unwanted office furniture, at Willow Lane Industrial Estate on Wednesday 10 September 2003.

A tip-off was received from a concerned resident, who witnessed a gang of four people illegally dumping office furniture at East Road, Wimbledon, in April. This lead to two lorries being traced and impounded.

The Enforcement Team shortly traced the first lorry and discovered a false address had been used to register it. A warrant was issued to seize the lorry on sight and a joint operation between the Police, Merton’s Enforcement Team and the Environment Agency resulted in this being carried out. As no one had claimed the van within 28 days of the seizure, the lorry was crushed at Willow Lane Industrial Estate on Wednesday 10 September.

At the end of August a joint operation involving the DVLA, the Police, the Environment Agency and Merton’s Enforcement Team saw another vehicle involved in fly-tipping- this vehicle was successfully identified and seized. If the owner of the van, which is Grey Ford Transit Van, does not claim the vehicle within 28 days it will also be crushed.

Councillor Linda Kirby, Cabinet Member for Environmental Quality, said: “This is an excellent piece of work by the Enforcement Team and underlines our commitment to combating fly-tipping and other anti social behaviour in Merton.”

Anyone who witnesses fly tipping in their area should try and record as much information as possible and contact Merton’s Enforcement Team on 020 8274 4902.