Business fined for Fly-Tipping in Ashington
19 Dec 2022 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
A Business which fly-tipped waste on three occasions in Ashington has been brought to justice following investigations by the Public Protection Environmental Enforcement Team at Northumberland County Council.
On 2nd of December 2022 the case was heard by Newcastle Magistrates Court. As the business director failed to turn up, the case was heard in his absence, and the company P&K Damp Proofing and Home Improvements Ltd was found guilty of three offences of fly-tipping and one offence of a Failure of their Duty of Care regarding the waste.
The Court imposed a sum in the total of £12,283.89 for the offences including £2,160 compensation for Ashington Town Council which has to be paid within 56 days.
P&K Damp Proofing and Home Improvements Ltd operated by Paul Pearson based in Choppington was carrying out work over a period of months at an address in Station Road, Ashington. Despite repeated requests from county council officers to deal with the waste correctly the waste they produced was deposited twice on the pavement on the main street then eventually at Woodhorn Road Allotments.
As the result of the investigation Paul Pearson, the Director of the company, attended council offices to be interviewed.
During the interview he admitted to storing waste on the footpath while he was working at the premises and adding to it as he could not afford a skip. He had also lost the key for the back door so could not store it in the rear yard. He took no measures to ensure the public's safety and he could not produce any documentation to say that any waste had been disposed of lawfully.
Ashington Town Council incurred clearance costs of £2,160 for the waste dumped on the allotments.
Northumberland County Councillor Colin Horncastle, cabinet member for community services said:
“There are so many ways for residents and businesses to get rid of waste responsibly and the vast majority do so.
“No matter what the waste, or the reasons behind it, fly tipping is illegal and a serious environmental crime. The council has a zero-tolerance approach towards perpetrators and will prosecute offenders to make sure they pay for their crimes.”
“I hope this fine acts as a warning to others.”