4 July 2008

£1000 fine for fly-tipping near Wilmington

Wealden District Council has successfully prosecuted Ben Stempt, 24, of Raymond Close, Seaford for fly-tipping near Wilmington in October last year. The defendant pleaded guilty and was fined £1000 plus £300 costs at Hastings Magistrates' Court. Mr Stempt had dumped nearly 3 tonnes of household waste and fencing material near a local beauty spot.

"Fly-tipping spoils our environment and is expensive to clear up and ultimately it is our council tax payers who have to foot the bill," said Cllr Pam Doodes, Leader of Wealden District Council. "Whether it happens in town, or in a beautiful countryside location like Wilmington, it's unpleasant, illegal and potentially dangerous. Wealden will prosecute the culprits."

Mike Pashler, Head of Waste and Commercial Services said: "All instances of fly-tipping are investigated by our Street Scene Enforcement Officers and, as this case has shown, we use good investigative work to find those responsible."

During the last financial year, Wealden dealt with nearly 800 fly-tipping incidents, 69% of them cleared within two days. Wealden spends approximately £40,000 per year clearing fly tips across the District.