26 June 2009
The three accused were convicted at Derby Magistrates Court on Thursday 18 June 2009 following an investigation by South Derbyshire District Council’s Safer Neighbourhood Wardens.
Mr Hayden Cave, of Derby, pleaded guilty to being in control of a vehicle which was used to deposit waste. Mr Cave admitted dumping two mattresses, an internal door and several pieces of packaging material on the B5008 between Repton and Newton Solney.
Mr Leon Aisthorpe, of Burton-on-Trent, appeared in Court after he failed to provide information about the same deposit of waste. Mr Aisthorpe was traced after his name and address were found on items of packaging material.
Finally, in a separate case, Mr Michael Langford, of Derby, pleaded guilty to depositing eight black bin bags full of waste on Arleston Lane, Stenson Fields.
Ms Ardip Kaur, the Council’s Legal Officer, prosecuted the cases. Each defendant was conditionally discharged for up to 18 months and costs of over £1000 were awarded to the Council.
Says Jack Twomey, the Council’s Environmental Protection Manager, “The number of households that fly tip waste is on the increase. In some cases this is because people are moving house and have lots of additional waste which they can’t be bothered to take to civic amenity sites. Sometimes there is no explanation why waste can’t just be put in the wheelie bin.
“Civic amenity sites are made available so that people can dispose of their waste properly. There really is no excuse to dump it in the countryside and both the Council and the Courts take a very dim view of it.”
Anyone who witnesses fly tipping in South Derbyshire should contact the Safer Neighbourhood Wardens on 01283 595943 or the Clean Team on 0800 587 2349.
Continues Jack Twomey, “Councils are under a great deal of pressure to keep their area clean and clear of rubbish. Many people think that Councils go for the easier option of enforcement against littering. This is not the case for South Derbyshire District Council. Not only will we prosecute where the evidence supports it, we will name and shame the culprits.
“This is not just a problem associated with household waste. Fly tipping can be big business and the punishment for businesses who fly tip, or pass their waste to unlicensed waste carriers who fly tip, is likely to be even more severe.
“My message to both householders and businesses thinking about dumping waste in our beautiful countryside is to consider the impact of their actions. You could be fined up to £50,000 and/or get up to five years in prison.”
Says Councillor Heather Wheeler, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, "Fighting fly tipping comes high on the list of priorities for our residents and this has been highlighted in the work duties of our staff.
“These investigations let everyone know we will not accept this sort of behaviour and we will prosecute in every case where we can. I welcome the results of these prosecutions and thank the Magistrates for backing our work by imposing these penalties.”
