Three Ashington men who repeatedly failed to clear up large quantities of waste they had allowed to accumulate in their gardens, have been fined following an investigation by Northumberland County Council. 
 

The private properties, all on Chestnut Street in Ashington, had a build-up of waste including mattresses, furniture and other household waste in bags which were an eyesore for their neighbours, smelt foul and presented a health hazard by attracting vermin that spread disease. 
 

The County Council’s Public Protection Environmental Enforcement team investigated reports of excessive waste at the properties following a number of complaints.  
 

Officers visited the properties and despite attempts to have the waste removed by the residents through the issue of legal warnings - Community Protection Warnings and Community Protection Notices – the waste remained. 
 

On Thursday 18 November 2021, Ryan Dean aged 26, of Chestnut Street, Ashington appeared before North Tyneside Magistrates and pleaded guilty to a breach of a Community Protection Notice. He was ordered to pay a fine of £108, costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £34, making a total financial penalty of £392.  
 

On Friday 17 December 2021, David Shaw aged 47, of Chestnut Street, Ashington appeared before Newcastle Magistrates and pleaded guilty to a breach of a Community Protection Notice. He was ordered to pay a fine of £440, costs of £233 and a victim surcharge of £44, making a total financial penalty of £717.  
 

On the same day, Robert Campbell aged 46, of Chestnut Street, Ashington appeared before Newcastle Magistrates and pleaded guilty to a breach of a Community Protection Notice. He was ordered to pay a fine of £440, costs of £233 and a victim surcharge of £44, making a total financial penalty of £717 
 

Dean received a lower fine as he had eventually cleared the waste from his address prior to attending court. 
 

Both Shaw and Campbell in addition to the fines have been ordered by the court to clear the waste at their addresses within 28 days. 
 

Northumberland County Councillor Colin Horncastle, cabinet member for community services for said: 

“These successful prosecutions show that homeowners and tenants will not get away with flouting the law. 

“Despite the best efforts of council officers, using reason and legal warnings, the waste remained. This ultimately landed the residents in court and with hefty fines to pay. It would have been far easier for them to keep their gardens rubbish free in the first place.” 
 

Councillor Mark Purvis, Chair of Ashington Town Council added: “Residents should be able to enjoy their homes and gardens, and not have to live with large accumulations of waste from neighbouring properties.  These are not only an eyesore but could be a risk to public health.”  
 

“Ashington Town Council work in partnership with Northumberland County Council to highlight and address enforcement issues.  Resident's lives should not be blighted by the selfish actions of their neighbours.  This will not be tolerated and offenders will be prosecuted.”