An Ashington resident whose back garden became a dumping ground has had a financial penalty of more than £1,000 imposed following a successful prosecution by Northumberland County Council. 
 

The build-up of waste at the property on Alexandra Road was an eyesore for neighbours,  and presented a health hazard by attracting vermin that spread disease. 
 

This waste could have been put into wheelie bins, or alternately taken to a local Household Waste Recovery Centre where the waste could have been disposed of free of charge. Ms Richardson was given plenty of time to sort the issue but made no attempt to do so, or to make contact with the council.  In the end the council cleared up the mess and the courts passed the costs for doing so on to her. 
 

On Friday 05 April 2024 Sarah Louise Richardson was found guilty by a Single Justice at Newcastle Magistrates Court, of the offence of failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice. She was ordered to pay a fine of £440, costs of £474.09 (including £206.98 works in default) and a victim surcharge of £176 making a total financial penalty of £1,090.09. 
 

During 2023, the County Council received reports of a buildup of household waste at an address in Alexandra Road in Ashington.  
 

An officer from the Public Protection Environmental Enforcement Team investigated and attempted to have the waste removed by the occupant. Ms Richardson was issued with a Community Protection Warning (CPW) requesting that the rubbish was removed in 22 days. 

 

When this did not happen, a Community Protection Notice (CPN) was then issued requiring her to remove their rubbish within 25 days, but further checks once again revealed the rubbish remained in situ. Failing to comply with a CPN is a criminal offence.  

 

The waste was subsequently removed by Northumberland County Council and those costs claimed as part of the prosecution. 
 

Northumberland County Councillor Gordon Stewart, Cabinet member for Looking After our Communities said: 

“The council is continuing to crackdown on environmental crime to make sure those responsible face the consequences. 
 

“Nobody wants to see their street turned into an eyesore or a dumping ground, which is why we won’t hesitate to take action against those committing these offences. 
 

“We understand that people will from time to time need to store some rubbish in their gardens for a short period, but it is not acceptable for anyone to ignore the repeated advice of our Environmental Protection officers and allow their garden to become an unhygienic eyesore for months on end. 
 

“I hope this prosecution sends a firm message to those who fail to take responsibility for their own waste and who ignore the effect their actions have on the quality of life of their neighbours.  
 

This is the fourth successful prosecution the county council has carried out this month as it continues to crack down on environmental crime and illegal waste issues. 
 

Earlier this month two residents living in Ashington and Newbiggin received hefty fines for failing to clear a mountain of mess from their gardens and ignoring legal notices.   
 

A man from Blyth was also fined after his vehicle was spotted on dashcam footage being used to fly-tip waste at Seghill.