Making a mess can cost you thousands

Jan 11 2008 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THOUSANDS of pounds in fines have been doled out to Huddersfield people who used their gardens as rubbish dumps.

Kirklees Council’s environmental services prosecuted occupiers of three houses for not clearing waste from outside their properties.

They were hit with court fines and costs totalling more than £4,500.

Clr Martyn Bolt, the Kirklees cabinet member responsible for tackling litter, said: “Enforcement action such as this is a last resort. We try to solve such problems quickly and amicably with minimum costs.

“The outcome of these cases will hopefully deter people from treating their gardens as rubbish tips.

“They also show we will not tolerate people ignoring the law that is there to protect and benefit the majority of residents who wish to live in a clean and healthy neighbourhood.”

Lorraine Shettle, of Oliver Lane, Marsden, was fined £500 and ordered to pay £1,256 in legal costs.

Dennis Johnson, of Nabcroft Lane, Crosland Moor, was also fined £500, with £1,243 clearance and legal costs.

Robert Sykes and Suzzanne Heaver, of Hawthorne Terrace, Crosland Moor, were fined £200 each, with £588 clearance and legal costs.

The court actions followed several attempts to persuade them to clear the rubbish.

After complaints from people living nearby, an enforcement officer visited the scenes and wrote to the occupiers asking for the waste to be removed.

When that did not happen all three properties were given formal notices ordering removal within 28 days.

Environmental services then cleared the rubbish, but issued £100 fixed penalty notices. When the residents failed to pay up the council prosecuted them.

All four offenders now have criminal records.

Clr Bolt added: “Our enforcement team will always make an effort to advise and support residents when dealing with waste and litter. But we will prosecute if people continue to blatantly deface the local environment.

“Residents have to take responsibility for their own rubbish.

“The council provides a free bulky waste collection service, so there is no need for anyone to use their garden as a dumping ground.”

To report fly-tipping or littering, call 01484 223156.