A HUGE pile of leaves, tree chunks and waste have been dumped at the entrance of Pitsea Cemetery, leaving councillors furious.

Basildon Council has insisted it will remove the fly-tipping as a matter or urgency after it was dumped in the centre of the road approaching the cemetery in Church Road, Bowers Gifford.

Kevin Blake, Conservative councillor responsible for the environment, said an investigation is underway and whoever is responsible will be fined when caught.

It comes after the council raised the maximum amount of fines it can dish out from £400 to up to £1,000 for fly tipping, as well as upping litter fines from £150 to £500 to crack down on the issue.

Mr Blake said: “I’m shocked that someone has been so disrespectful to those who are buried at the Pitsea Cemetery.

“Whoever has done this should hang their head in shame.

“I hope we can catch whoever did this.”

According to Luke Mackenzie, Mayor of Basildon and Pitsea South East ward Conservative councillor, there have been “several incidents of fly tipping in this road in the past”.

He added: “If there’s regular instances in this location, there should be frequent surveillance patrols to prevent further incidents of fly tipping, especially when it’s near sensitive sites.

“It’s saddening to hear, and I hope we won’t see another similar incident like this.”

In August, figures showed that Basildon Council ranked third for dishing out the most fixed penalty notices for fly tipping during the 2021 to 2023 financial year - 6,240.

Back in November 2023, it handed out its first £1,000 fine to tackle fly tipping. Andrew Baggott, leader of the Conservative-run council, hopes it “sends out a strong message”.

Craig Rimmer, Conservative councillor responsible for economic stimulus and tourism and Pitsea South East ward representative, said: “It’s absolutely disgraceful. The fines show that no one will get away with it and that the council will take action and enforce.

“The council has a CCTV policy, and it regularly reviews which sites are fly tipping hotspots.”

To report incidents, visit: basildon.gov.uk/reportonline.