Help needed at St James Church 17th October @ 10 am
Residents urged to join fight against fly-tipping
Residents are urged to avoid a #RubbishDeal as part of a national campaign encouraging them to help tackle fly-tipping.
Wychavon is backing Keep Britain Tidy’s Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight, which runs from 12 to 25 October.
The campaign warns about rogue waste collectors who advertise cheap, “too good to be true” rubbish removal services online and on social media, then dump the waste illegally. Checking a waste carrier’s licence could help stop rogue operators blighting the district’s countryside and communities.
But a Keep Britain Tidy survey found only 46% knew they should check before hiring someone to remove their rubbish, and only 13% of those aware had ever done so. Of those considering hiring a waste collector, 42% said they trusted an operator based on their advert. Residents who fail to make checks not only risk being fined if their waste is dumped illegally but are also helping rogue collectors profit from a problem that has reached record levels nationally.
More than 1,000 fly-tipping incidents were reported across Wychavon in 2025/26, up more than 14% on the previous year, with clear-up costs estimated at £50,000 annually.
Residents are encouraged to take three simple steps before paying someone to remove their waste:
Ask to see their waste carrier licence.
Check they are on the public register on the Environment Agency’s website or call 0300 065 3000.
Get a receipt or official record of the waste transfer.
Wychavon’s free WasteGuard service also lists local waste carriers who have been checked for the required licence and responsible waste disposal practices.
The campaign follows Wychavon’s decision to increase the fine for fly-tipping from £1,000 to £5,000.
Cllr Beverley Hardman, Wychavon’s Executive Board Member for Environment, said: “Fly-tipping damages our environment, spoils the places where we live and costs taxpayers’ money.
“We all have a role to play in tackling it, and that starts with taking a few minutes to check who we’re handing our waste over to.
“Rogue traders rely on people not asking questions. The more we check, the harder we make it for them to operate and the less rubbish ends up dumped in our communities.”
Visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/fight-fly-tipping for more information.
See less
Heart attack inspires new rehab support
A year on from suffering a major heart attack, Wychavon leader Cllr Richard Morris has helped bring cardiac rehabilitation services closer to home for people across the district.
The new programme includes NHS-led rehabilitation and follow-on exercise sessions at Droitwich Spa and Pershore leisure centres, building on support already available in Evesham.
Cllr Morris was inspired to improve local access to rehabilitation care after collapsing in his kitchen on 3 October last year. He was found by his brother, who started CPR before paramedics arrived and rushed Cllr Morris to hospital.
His recovery involved learning to trust his body again while his heart healed, including doing everyday tasks people take for granted like climbing stairs, carrying shopping and long walks. Reflecting on the anniversary, Cllr Morris said his experience made him want to improve support for others facing the same challenges.
“A year ago, my life changed dramatically. Looking back, I feel incredibly fortunate to be here and to have recovered as well as I have. The medical team who looked after me were amazing, and the support I have had along the way has been fantastic,” he said. “One of the biggest lessons for me has been to look forward and give thanks to everything and everyone around you. Walking has continued to be really important. It’s something simple, but it can make such a difference, both physically and mentally.”
After leaving hospital, Cllr Morris brought together a small group including Rivers Fitness, the Worcestershire NHS cardiac rehabilitation team, primary care staff and public health specialists to explore how more support could be provided locally. As a result, Wychavon is funding Phase 4 cardiac rehabilitation sessions every Wednesday from 12pm to 1pm at Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre and from 2pm to 3pm at Pershore Leisure Centre. Run by qualified instructors, they focus on guided exercise to build on gains made during the previous phases.
Rivers Fitness has also agreed to host a Phase 3 session at Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre in addition to the one already running in Evesham. Funded and run by the NHS, patients will be referred to these sessions following a heart attack, cardiac event or surgery. They focus on medically supervised recovery and education, helping people safely rebuild their strength and confidence. The sessions are only the start of the local support Cllr Morris hopes to build, with plans for more work around heart health, exercise and prevention, as well as creating a local support group.
Cllr Morris added: “I’m grateful to everyone who has supported the creation of these sessions, particularly the Worcestershire cardiac rehab team and Rivers Fitness. It shows what can be achieved by working together. My aim now is to continue supporting the recovery of others and hopefully helping more people look after their hearts, so they won’t have to go through what I did.”
More information about Phase 4 sessions at Droitwich Spa and Pershore is available at www.riversfitness.co.uk/community/cardiacrehab. For details of Phase 4 sessions at Evesham, email pulse_purpose@outlook.com.