Ashfield District Council is warning residents that they risk fines and other legal action for fly-tipping, littering other environmental crimes. And they have released details of recent enforcement action showing that residents across the district have had to pay the penalty for causing “blight” to local communities.
The council’s executive lead for community safety and crime reduction, Cllr John Wilmott, said today (Thursday) that “environmental crime such as fly tipping, littering and dog fouling blights our communities and we are determined to stamp it out.
“The council has invested significantly in litter bins, delivering local initiatives such as the annual big spring clean and public engagement programmes in order to promote responsible behaviour towards environmental crime.
“Fly tipping is illegal, and we will continue to warn people to dispose of their waste responsibly and within the law. Not only does fly-tipping incur a cost to the council to remove and dispose of waste, but it also uses resources which can be used for other essential services.”
Recent enforcement action taken by the council includes:
- Elder Street, Sutton in Ashfield
A resident received a Community Protection Notice (CPN) and was ordered to pay more than £2,000 for dumping rubbish. After failing to comply with the order and remove the waste, despite repeated requests, they were prosecuted at South Derbyshire Magistrates Court under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Magistrates fined the resident after finding them guilty. - Coxmoor Estate, Kirkby in Ashfield
A resident was issued with a fixed penalty notice by community protection officers on the after they found a large accumulation of waste dumped at a property. Following multiple attempts to resolve the issue, the resident ignored the council and became abusive to officers resulting in the resident being issued with a duty of care notice. - Pinxton Lane, Kirkby in Ashfield
A fly-tipper was identified when officers inspected rubbish dumped in Pinxton Lane and found evidence linking it to a resident. They were handed a £200 fine. - Dorey Way, Hucknall
A resident was fined £200 after dumping waste - Leamington Estate, Sutton in Ashfield
A resident was fined £100 after dumping a box of waste - Forest Road, Sutton
A smoker who refused to pay a £100 fixed penalty notice issued for throwing a cigarette on the floor had his penalty increased to £500 after being prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. - Hucknall
A resident received a £100 fine and a community protection notice requiring them to keep their dog under control after continuously allowing their pet to roam free and foul near neighbouring properties - Kirkby in Ashfield
A resident received a £100 fine for dog fouling after being caught on CCTV.
Ashfield District Council’s community safety service is also holding town centre “action days” to clamp down and educate residents on environmental crime and anti-social behaviour across the district.
A council spokesperson explained that the team’s use of closure orders, possession proceedings and community engagement events are “to help make the streets of Ashfield cleaner and safer for all.”
