Fly-tipping fine should serve as warning, say council officials

Bethany Amber Willets of Baden Street, Hartlepool, was found guilty in her absence by Teesside Magistrates.

The court heard that an enforcement officer from Hartlepool Borough Council came across a large pile of waste - including flooring, cushions from a chair and other items - in the backstreet outside her home and when it was checked a number of letters referring to her were found.

Despite claiming that she had intended to book the Council’s Waste Removal Service, investigations revealed that she had not done so.

She was issued with a £400 fixed penalty notice, but court proceedings were launched when she failed to pay.

The dumped waste

The Council which brought the prosecution, says there are no excuses for fly-tipping and the conviction should serve as a warning to others.

Ian Harrison who chairs the authority’s multi-agency Fly-Tipping Working Group, said: “I am pleased that the magistrates recognised the seriousness of the offence and imposed a significant financial penalty. Fly-tipping is a scourge on our communities and costs the Council huge sums to clean up.

“There are absolutely no excuses for fly-tipping and we will not hesitate to prosecute those responsible where we are able to gather the necessary evidence.”

Anyone with information about fly-tipping can call the Council’s Fly Tip Off hotline on (01429) 523333 or report it at www.hartlepool.gov.uk/fly-tipping

Residents are being urged to always dispose of their rubbish responsibly, and the Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centre in Burn Road and its Waste Removal Service (formerly known as the Bulky Household Waste Service) operate five days a week and have bookings readily available. Book at www.hartlepool.gov.uk/hwrcbookings or www.hartlepool.gov.uk/wasteremoval Alternatively, call (01429) 523333.