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Residents help council crack down on fly tippers
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"08/03/2010
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Chichester District Council has praised residents for their vigilance, following the prosecution of three fly tippers in the district.
The Chichester Magistrates Court ordered the payment of fines, costs and compensation totalling almost £4,000 after three individuals were found guilty of depositing controlled waste on land, without a waste management licence.
Andrew Wilson, a builder from Havant, had dumped a garage door and other building materials on land at Racton Monument, which is a listed building.
A member of the public saw Wilson’s van and noted down the vehicle registration number. Wilson pleaded guilty and was fined £600 with costs awarded to the Local Authority of £1100.60; compensation of £104.50 - and a victim surcharge of £15, totalling £1820.10.
Another member of the public spotted John Masters leaving household waste, including carpets and an armchair, on land on Woodberry Lane, Rowlands Castle. Council officers found evidence in the fly tip linked to Masters. In Court, Masters stated he intended to go to the tip, but didn't have enough room in his car for his passengers and the rubbish. He was fined £300, plus costs to the Local Authority of £668.80; compensation of £84.50, and a £15 victim surcharge, totalling £1068.30.
Kevin Robinson, of no fixed address, refused to pay the £15 commercial vehicle charge required to leave rubbish at the Council refuse tip. Instead, Robinson dumped the waste in the car park at Hunstan Canal. Evidence found in the fly tip was linked back to Robinson. He pleaded guilty and due to his personal circumstances got a conditional discharge for a period of one year. However, the Council was awarded costs of £970 and compensation of £68. There was a victim surcharge of £15 and overall total of £1053.
Chichester District Council is now asking the public to continue to be on the lookout for illegal fly tipping. Councillor Heather Caird, Portfolio Holder for Health at Chichester District Council, says: “Without the cooperation of the public, tackling fly tips would be more challenging. We want the public to report fly tips as soon as they see them. If you can provide descriptions of vehicles and the perpetrators that is really helpful. Photographs are also useful.”
The Council now operates a zero tolerance approach to fly tipping, regardless of whether the rubbish is dumped on public or private land. Graham Nunn, Chichester District Council’s Clean Neighbourhoods Officer, says: “The public and householders should also be aware that they have a duty of care to ensure their waste is disposed of properly. If their waste is dumped illegally, they could be prosecuted for it, even if it was someone else who dumped it. As part of our investigations into fly tipping, a number of householders have now been issued with fixed penalty notices for failing to do this. In the future they could be prosecuted.”
If householders employ someone else to remove and dispose of any waste on their behalf, they must be able to show they have taken reasonable measures to make sure it is disposed of properly. These include:
• asking the person collecting your waste if they are registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency;
• asking where your waste is being taken; the site should be licensed by the Environment Agency;
• questioning why someone is offering you a price much lower than anyone else;
• asking the person collecting your waste for a signed receipt with their carrier registration number on it and noting the vehicle registration number; and
• refusing to hand over your waste if you have any concerns.
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