Cotswold fly-tipper caught out by evidence left in rubbish
A builder has been fined £1,000 after Cotswold District Council’s environmental enforcement team tracked down the source of a large fly-tip discovered on Sandywell Lane near Dowdeswell.
Council officers identified those responsible after examining the dumped waste and finding evidence that linked it to renovation work carried out at a nearby property.
The householder confirmed they had recently had renovation work carried out at their property, but the contract included the safe disposal of waste from the site. Despite this, the waste ended up being illegally dumped and following a council investigation, a £1,000 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) was issued for fly-tipping and has since been paid in full.
As Fixed Penalty Notices are an alternative to court action, the offender cannot be named.
Cllr Andrea Pellegram, cabinet member for environment and regulatory services, said: "This fine demonstrates our determination to tackle fly-tipping across the district. I'd like to thank our officers for their continued hard work in investigating reports, gathering evidence and bringing offenders to justice. Their commitment plays a vital role in protecting our communities and keeping our district clean.
"The team is out and about every day investigating reports, patrolling known hotspots and looking for evidence that can help us identify those responsible. We also continue to deploy fly-tip cameras at locations across the district to deter and detect offences.
"If you witness fly-tipping or have information that could help an investigation, please report it to us on our website. The evidence you provide can make a real difference in helping us identify offenders and ensure those responsible are held to account."
Residents who discover fly-tipped waste are urged not to search through it themselves, as it may contain hazardous materials such as needles, asbestos or rotting waste.
Anyone who witnesses fly-tipping should report it to the council as soon as possible. Where it is safe to do so, details such as a vehicle registration number can help officers investigate, but residents are advised never to put themselves at risk or enter into a confrontation.
Once reported, council officers will attend the site, arrange for the waste to be removed and carry out an investigation to identify those responsible.