TWO tons of building site waste was dumped across a road in a “serious” flytipping incident.

The rubbish was strewn over a rural lane and was so bad that council chiefs have launched an appeal to track down those responsible.

The incident at Wakestone Lane near Petworth was reported to Chichester District Council earlier this month.

It is an area of beautiful countryside near Petworth House and Park, which is run by the National Trust.

Councillor Penny Plant said: “This was a particularly nasty incident and an example of a resident who has probably paid a private company in good faith to have this waste removed.

“That company has then taken a conscious – and criminal – decision to dump this in a quiet area of our beautiful countryside.

“From the type and amount of material we found, we know that this is not the sort of waste that would come through the normal household waste and recycling centres – it would need to be taken to a dedicated commercial waste handling station.

“Only a commercial enterprise could have been responsible for this and they would have used a flat-bed transit type vehicle to transport it.”

The authority is making an appeal to track down those responsible.

It comes as councils battle against a rise in flytipping incidents after the coronavirus lockdown.

Despite waste tips reopening, criminals are still dumping rubbish in the countryside or beauty spots.

Last week The Argus reported on how flytippers had destroyed the peace at Hove Cemetery by leaving waste there.

Cllr Plant, who is the cabinet member responsible for the environment in Chichester, wants residents to check the firms called in to get rid of waste.

They should be licensed as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency.

She said: “We are appealing to anyone who has had work done recently who may recognise some of the

material that has been dumped.

Flytipping is a criminal activity and any evidence we receive will be investigated by our environmental health team.”

Householders or businesses have a duty of care to dispose of waste safely and can be held liable in law for the actions of criminal flytippers.

To report flytipping or information visit your council website.

Anyone with information about this incident should report it at chichester.gov.uk/flytipping.