Fly-tipping evidence trail leads to a fine

A COMPANY has been fined £300 for fly-tipping in Rubery after officials followed a trail of evidence leading to Milton Keynes and back.

Traders reported in April a load of commercial rubbish had been dumped at the back of the shops in the High Street.

Community safety enforcement officers from Bromsgrove District Council sifted through the rubbish but although they found nothing to identify the culprit the source was eventually traced by investigating model and batch numbers found on packaging amongst the waste.

They were traced to a manufacturer in Milton Keynes who were able to confirm the supplier to whom the goods had been sold. The supplier then identified who had received the goods, which after further investigation led to a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued to a Solihull based business in June.

The council has chosen not to name the business as it has accepted responsibility and paid the £300 fine last week.

Felicity Pate, community safety enforcement officer who worked on the case, said: “We only had a shred of evidence but it was enough. Residents who report fly tips rightly expect us to get results and we will continue to enforce the laws protecting Bromsgrove District from environmental crimes.”

Coun Michael Webb, responsible for environmental services on the council added: “Fly tipping is illegal and a totally unacceptable blight on our towns, estates and countryside.

"We now have a great team of officers who love where they live and are passionate about bringing fly tippers to justice, and we will do everything in our power to catch the culprits.

“As this case shows, even a scrap of evidence can result in positive action being taken so please keep reporting any incidents of fly tipping to us.”

Fly tipping can be reported by visiting www.bromsgrove.gov.uk or calling 01527 881288.

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