Nearly £2,500 handed out in fines after fly-tipping incidents across Test Valley
Fines of nearly £2,500 have been issued after three separate fly-tipping incidents in different parts of Test Valley.
During a routine visit by a Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) officer to a site near Broughton, on 24 November 2022, a large pile of garden waste was discovered dumped in the area.
A covert camera had been placed there due to previous incidents, and a review of the footage showed a car making the deposit, with the registration plate clearly visible.
This was found to be Michael Oakes, 69, from Broughton, who admitted depositing the waste following an interview under caution.
Appearing at Southampton Magistrates on 18 August 2023, Oakes was given a fine of £1,213 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £492 and full costs of £643.95.
Meanwhile, TVBC officers received a report of a fly tip consisting of four large black bags of household waste on a track known as Old Coach Road near Abbotts Ann on 27 April 2023.
Material within the waste led officers to Elvis Stoica, who was sent a letter inviting him to an interview under caution. He failed to attend and a notice to assist with the investigation was then sent, which also had no response.
Appearing at Basingstoke Magistrates on 22 August 2023, Stoica was charged with failing to assist with an investigation and given a fine of £1,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £400 and total costs of £620.50.
Elsewhere, there was a failure to assist with an investigation following the discovery of a large amount of soil dumped in a car park in Amport on 26 January 2023.
TVBC received reports that the waste originated from a specific address where gardening work has been carried out.
Following two letters, officers calling at the property and a notice requesting Kerry Lemon to assist with the investigation, no response was received.
Lemon was issued with a £200 fine and ordered to pay to victim surcharge of £80 and full costs of £476 at Basingstoke Magistrates on 18 July 2023.
Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, Councillor David Drew, said:
“These are all excellent results and further proof of our zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping. We have a beautiful borough, and we will do all we can to make sure it is being protected.”