Woman fined for allowing flytipping in her garden

A woman from Drighlington has been fined for letting people use her garden as an unofficial dumping ground.

Carol Walker, Wakefield Road, Drighlington was fined £155 by Leeds magistrates today and must pay a £20 victim surcharge and £817 costs.

Walker pleaded guilty to offences under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act and Anti-social Behaviour and Crime Act 2014.

By allowing people to sort scrap and burn waste on her land, Walker effectively made her garden an unauthorised waste transfer station.

Environmental action officers issued a Community Protection Notice requiring Walker to clear the waste but she failed to comply and allowed more waste to be dumped in her garden.

Much of the rubbish is believed to have come from individuals who take cash for removing resident’s waste who then flytip it rather than dispose of it legally.

Although not guilty of flytipping herself, Walker was aware and condoned illegal depositing of rubbish on her property.

Community Protection Notices direct people to stop causing a problem that is having a detrimental impact on the quality of life of people in their neighbourhood. Environmental action officers will work with individuals and communities to find solutions, but where these efforts fail a written warning will be issued to encourage people to take action.

If this fails, a CPN can be issued. Failure to comply with a CPN could result in a £100 fixed penalty notice or prosecution, which carries a maximum £2,500 fine for individuals or £20,000 for organisations.