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Cricklade man fined over £3,000 as Wiltshire Council continues zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping

Wiltshire Council has successfully prosecuted a Cricklade man for dumping a tipper load of garden waste

Published 17 May 2024
Cricklade fly-tipper prosecution

Wiltshire Council has successfully prosecuted a Cricklade man for dumping a tipper load of garden waste in a gateway entrance to a farmer's field.

Mr Frank Smith, trading as Oaksview Tree & Garden Services of Calcutt Park, pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates Court on Friday 10 May. He was issued with £3,180 in fines and costs, and he was ordered to pay the council compensation of £112.08 to cover the clean-up bill.

The court heard how Mr Smith deposited a tipper load of garden waste in August 2023, blocking access to a field. He was spotted by a quick-thinking farmer, who photographed him tipping the waste and reported it to the council.

Mr Smith also failed to comply with a council notice requiring him to provide two years of waste transfer notes for his gardening business, and he failed to comply with a formal notice from the council requiring him to identity the vehicle's driver.

The investigation was led by the council's Environmental Enforcement Team and was assisted by Wiltshire Police and the Environment Agency. The council will make representations to the Environment Agency to have Mr Smith's waste carriers licence revoked.

Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Highways, Street Scene, and Flooding, said: We have a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping in Wiltshire, as part of our Business Plan commitment to prosecute offenders.

In this case, we are grateful to the quick-thinking farmer who spotted the incident and assisted our officers with our investigation, and I'd like to thank Wiltshire Police and the Environment Agency for their assistance with the case.

Every business has a legal duty of care to ensure their business waste is disposed of correctly, and they must retain two years of waste transfer notes.

As this case shows, we will take action to prosecute environmental criminals in our beautiful county. Anyone who spots fly-tipping in Wiltshire should report it to us using MyWilts and we will investigate and take action.

Anyone using a waste clearance service should:

  • Check they have a valid upper tier waste carrier licence and note the number.
  • Get a receipt or waste transfer note.
  • Record the vehicle details, including the registration number, and note a description of the people involved.

To find out more about how the council is tackling fly-tipping in Wiltshire and how to report fly-tipping, people should visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/fly-tipping

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