An Ashington man and Newbiggin woman 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 on Beatrice Street in Ashington and King George’s Road in Newbiggin had a build-up of waste which was an eyesore for 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. 

The two residents had the same facilities as everyone else but had failed to put their waste out for weekly bin collections over a long period of time allowing it to accumulate. 

Despite attempts by officers to have the waste removed through the issue of Community Protection Warnings (CPW) and Community Protection Notices (CPN) – giving reasonable deadlines to remove the waste - it remained dumped in their gardens. 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. 
 

On Friday 12 April 2024 Damian Antony Brett failed to attend Newcastle Magistrates Court and was found guilty in his absence, for the offence of failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice. He was ordered to pay a fine of £660, Costs of £557.55 (including £206.96 works in default) and a victim surcharge of £264 making a total financial penalty of £1,481.55. 
 

On Friday 12 April 2024 Kerrie Ann Scott of King Georges Road, Newbiggin by the Sea failed to attend Newcastle Magistrates Court and was found guilty in her absence, for the offence of failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice and was ordered to pay a fine of £660, Costs of £907.16 (including £573.32 works in default) and a victim surcharge of £264 making a total financial penalty of £1,831.16.   
 

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

“The council is continuing its a crackdown on environmental crime. It will not be tolerated in Northumberland and these recent court cases show that we are very serious about using all our powers to tackle the issue and make sure those responsible always face consequences. 
 

“The majority of residents take a great pride in their homes, gardens and communities and they should not have their lives blighted by the selfish actions of others.   
 

" It is really unfair that neighbours have to live next to this huge accumulation of waste. It smells, is an eyesore and a health hazard caused purely because the residents did not put their waste out in their wheelie bins for weekly collections. That is why we have taken tough action. 
 

“Our officers aren’t unreasonable, but despite their best efforts, using reason and then legal warnings, the waste remained, and no contact was made with the council. The residents had over two months to clear the waste but didn’t and this ultimately landed them in court and with a hefty fine to pay.”