Fly tippers in the Fenland area will now face fines of up to £1,000, over double the previous fine level, after increases were approved.

The fines for people caught littering have been doubled and new fines have been introduced for graffiti and flyposting.

The increases to the fines were unanimously agreed by the cabinet at Fenland District Council at a meeting on September 30, but some councillors said they believed the fines should be higher.

The district council said fly tipping, littering, graffiti and flyposting “blight communities” and cost the authority money to clean it up.

The new fine levels will see the fine for littering increase from £150 to £300 (reduced to £250 if paid within 10 days).

The fine for fly tipping used to be £400, but will now be £600 for small, low-level offences (reduced to £450 if paid within 10 days), and £1,000 for large scale offences (reduced to £850 if paid within 10 days).

The household waste duty of care fine has been increased from £400 to £600 (reduced to £450 is paid within 10 days).

New fines for graffiti and flyposting have also been introduced, both of which will be a £300 fine (reduced to £250 if paid within 10 days).

Councillor Peter Murphy, portfolio holder for refuse and cleansing, parks and open spaces, said the money raised through the fines would be used to pay for awareness campaigns and to support the council’s cleansing costs.

He said the authority was not allowed to use the funds for any other reason.

Councillor Jan French said she fully supported the increase in fines, and said she actually believed they should be more.

Councillor Alex Miscandlon said he agreed with this and supported using the fines as a deterrent.

He said: “I fully support this because I think the fly tipping and general detritus that gets left in the streets is absolutely appalling and any deterrent that can stop it I totally agree with.

“I think the fines should be higher, but unfortunately we can’t do that at this moment in time.”

Councillor Steve Tierney said it was important there was a “proper deterrent” for things like fly tipping, and said he agreed the fines should continue to increase.