THOSE who fly-tip rubbish are "bone idle", a Boscombe councillor has said.

Cllr Chris Wakefield made the comments after the Daily Echo photographed a site in the ward which is strewn with litter.

The privately-owned land lies between St Clement's Road and the railway line.

Cllr Wakefield said: "This week, I've called in two lots of fly-tipping in Boscombe.

"The first thing to say is that fly-tipping is illegal. It is a bane of public life.

"Most residents take care of our environment, but there are others who will go around fly-tipping.

"It costs the council a lot of money to clear up every year. That's tax-payer's money.

"Fly-tipping also attracts vermin. It's just deeply unpleasant and unnecessary."

He urged members of the public to report all-fly-tipping.

"These days, it may not get dealt with straight away, but it will be cleared in time," he said.

"There simply is no reason to do it. It just boils down to people being bone idle."

Cllr Jane Kelly, who also represents Boscombe, said the council is working with the owner of the land through the Operational Galaxy initiative.

"For various reasons, it has been difficult for the owner to do the work he needs to do, but this is starting to happen," she said.

"Previously, it was awful - there were big structures on that site, and people were living there in a caravan.

"It is much better than it was, and gradually the problems with the rubbish are starting to improve too."

The owner was issued with a legal enforcement notice, but because of the owner's circumstances, the council has been patient with him, Cllr Kelly said.

"We don't believe it's right to hassle someone who is doing their best, particularly when things are improving," she said.

"Our aim is to make that land safe and secure. We want it not to be an eyesore."

The land is not owned by a developer, and is likely to be unsuitable for development based on its dimensions, council officials say.

In May, Cllr Robert Lawton, cabinet member for housing, said fly-tipping in Bournemouth had not increased significantly in the previous 12 months.

"When comparing year-on-year data, in this case April 2016 to March 2017 (2,356 reported incidents) and April 2017 to March 2018 (2,405 reported incidents) the figures have stayed broadly consistent, and therefore there has been no dramatic increase in the cost of clearing the fly tipping," he said.