Fine over fly-tipping eyesore

John Whitmore, of Cooper Avenue, Warrington, pleaded guilty to three offences relating to a large amount of waste illegally dumped on a track off College Road.

The waste, from a household clearance, was discovered last August 3 by West Lancashire Borough Council officers and was traced back to an address in Warrington.

It was found the occupier had paid Whitmore who was operating a company, JW Removals, to remove the waste.

At Ormskirk Magistrates’ Court, Whitmore pleaded guilty to fly-tipping and also admitted failing to provide waste transfer notes for the removal of the waste and failing to provide information to the Council.

He was ordered to pay a fine of £1,384, costs of £651.92 and a victim surcharge of £105 totalling £2,140.92.

The council has reminded householders that they need to make sure any waste that they have removed is disposed of legally. Anyone removing waste as part of a business must have a waste carriers licence and give waste transfer notes to whomever they take waste from.

Householders can check if anyone who removes waste from them has a licence by contacting the Environment Agency on 03708 506506 or going on their website www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency.

Environmental Enforcement Team chief Dave Tilleray said: “This case is the latest prosecution obtained by the council with regards to rubbish being disposed of illegally in West Lancashire. The council takes a hard line approach on these matters and demonstrates the commitment of the Environmental Enforcement Team to take action against offenders wherever possible.”

To report illegally dumped waste contact www.westlancs.gov.uk/flytipping or ring 01695 577177 during office hours.