IT HAS been called an act of “ultimate fly-tipping.”

Motorists driving on the A33 between Basingstoke and Winchester would have seen three mobile homes that were dumped at the roadside.

Two of the homes were situated on the northbound carriageway, with a third being placed almost diagonally across from the other two on the southbound road.

The triplet of homes were left abandoned, with doors and windows open as motorists enter or leave Basingstoke and Deane near the Micheldever border.

One resident, who reported the abandoned homes to The Gazette, and did not want to be named, said: “I travel on that road every day and I couldn’t believe it.

“When I first saw them, I thought they might just be there for storage and then be moved on, but after a few days they were still there and the positioning of them clearly signified that they had just be left there.

“I have heard of fly-tipping, but this is just the ultimate in fly-tipping.”

The homes were first noticed by residents on February 18, with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s environmental health team removing the homes from the roadside on Tuesday using a low loader and with the assistance of a highway escort over three trips.

An investigation into the circumstances of the homes being left on the A33 has been launched by the borough council.

Cabinet member for regulatory services and the environment at the borough, Councillor Hayley Eachus said: “This is a major fly-tipping incident which we are taking very seriously.

“A full investigation has been launched to find out who dumped these three mobile homes on the A33 and we are appealing for witnesses who may have seen them being moved between Monday, 18 February and Sunday, 24 February to come forward with information.

“Fly-tipping is a blight on our countryside and the removal of these homes has been both timely and costly, requiring specialist vehicles and a highway escort.

"It is completely unacceptable that the taxpayer should be footing the bill for this inconsiderate and illegal behaviour and we will do everything in our power to prosecute those responsible.”

The view of a no tolerance approach was echoed by Hampshire County Council, which praised the work of the borough council for the number of successful prosecutions surrounding fly-tipping.

Executive member for environment and transport at the county council, Cllr Rob Humby, said: “I’m pleased to say that our partnership approach is making good process, with one of the measures of success being the strong number of successful prosecutions across the county.

“I would like to remind people that they can report fly-tipping waste on public land to their local district and borough council, and reassure them that all efforts will be made to bring about successful prosecutions of those who are blighting our countryside in this way.”

Cllr Humby also praised the manner in which the homes were removed.

Those who have information relating to the dumping of the three homes should email ehteam@basingstoke.gov.uk or call 01256 844844.