Fly-tipped fridge freezer containing rotten food leads to fine for Andover woman
A woman has been ordered to pay nearly £350 following the fly-tip of a fridge freezer.
On 8 March 2024, Test Valley Borough Council received a complaint from a resident about a fly-tip on a public highway in Nelson Close, Andover, which had been there for some time.
The fly-tip was a fridge freezer which contained spoiled food.
On 12 March 2024, officers visited the address of Charlotte Wooltorton, 38, who claimed the item was to be removed a few days later. However, a subsequent visit after that date found the fridge was still in place.
Wooltorton then booked a bulky waste collection by the council and was informed it would need to be cleaned and emptied before it could be taken away.
Operatives visited later the same month, but were unable to take the appliance away as there was still rotten food inside.
The item was then removed by the council at public expense.
Appearing at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on 25 November 2024, Wooltorton pleaded guilty to a fly-tipping offence and was given a fine of £120 and ordered to pay costs of £228.
Portfolio holder for Recycling and Environmental Services, Cllr David Drew, said: “I’m very grateful for the hard work of the council officers in helping deliver this result. This one was particularly disgusting as it included rotting food.
“There is no excuse for fly-tipping, and we will make sure anyone caught doing so will face the consequences.”