Ashton fly tippers fined for dumping waste

TWO women from Ashton-under-Lyne have been ordered to pay large sums for fly tipping household waste in the street and an alleyway.

Marie Fairhurst, of Whiteacre Road, admitted two counts – one taking place on Russell Street and the other on Stanhope Street – when she appeared at Tameside Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September 23.

The court heard that on February 1 last year, Tameside Council’s waste enforcement team received the compliant of the fly tipping on Russell Street.

On March 16, a further incident occurred on Stanhope Street and evidence was again found linking it to Ms Fairhurst.

She was invited to attend an interview under caution to discuss both offences, but she ignored all communication and failed to attend court when it was listed for January 25.

A warrant was issued for her arrest, following which she was bailed to attend court on September 23, when the matter was heard.

In court, Ms Fairhurst initially claimed the waste was not hers, then stated her landlord told her she needed to dispose of some waste and that he would help her.

She finally admitted the waste did belong to her, except a mattress.

The prosecuting solicitor, representing Tameside Council, reminded the court this demonstrates the effect of fly tipping – once people perceive an area is a general dumping ground, it attracts further deposits.

Magistrates ordered Ms Fairhurst to pay a total of £600 – a fine of £50 for each of the two offences, £400 compensation and £100 costs.

In the second case, again heard at Tameside Magistrates’ Court on September 23, Claire Butler, of Kings Road, was found guilty in her absence.

On October 23, 2023, officers investigated a complaint of fly tipping in the alleyway behind properties on Kings Road, close to Rowley Street.

There were several black bags containing household waste and a cardboard box and officers found evidence linking the waste to Ms Butler.

After ignoring all correspondence, the matter was heard at Tameside Magistrates, only for her to not attend and the hearing taking place in her absence.

She was ordered to pay a total of £2,090 – a £1,000 fine, £550 costs and £440 victim surcharge

Courts have special powers to collect fines, even when an offender has failed to attend the prosecution.

If the fine is not paid, the court can take the money from their wages or benefits, send bailiffs to their home or ‘register’ the fine – meaning it will stay on their credit history for five years.

In extreme cases, the offender may be sent to prison.

Tameside Council’s assistant executive member for enforcement, Cllr Hugh Roderick, said: “There is absolutely no excuse for fly tipping.

“It blights local neighbourhoods, ruining the appearance of our streets and costing the council thousands of pounds from our very limited budget to clear.

“This is public money which could instead be spent on vital frontline services supporting residents.”

For information on how to report fly tipping and information that will assist investigations see www.tameside.gov.uk/flytipping.

 

One Reply to “Ashton fly tippers fined for dumping waste”

  1. From the above – “Tameside Council’s assistant executive member for enforcement said: “There is absolutely no excuse for fly tipping”.

    A usual (and annual) copy and paste statement from Tameside council.

    Whilst that may be true in his world or mine or in an ideal one, it may not always apply in the world of those who dump. Has Tameside council ever tried finding out why some people do it?

    For example:

    Why walk up the street in foul weather to dump when there’s room in a bin at the side of the house?

    Do the dumpers have transport to get to the council tip or even know of its existence and where it is?

    Do they believe (which is true) that if they dump their stuff on the streets it will get shifted at no direct cost to themselves?

    Do they have the five bulky items to get rid of in one go, which makes the council’s removal fee worthwhile?

    Do they even speak English and therefore understand the issue?

    Until Tameside council grasps that its standards don’t always apply to others and that we don’t live in an ideal world, the dumping problem will continue – as it has for the past decade or more.

    Also, although it goes against the grain of those who wouldn’t rock Tameside council’s boat for love nor money or give credit where it’s due, more publicity should be given to the efforts of councillor Khan and his team in Ashton’s West End.

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