Man fined £600 plus £400 costs for fly-tipping

AN Amman Valley man has been fined £600 and ordered to pay £419.83 court costs for fly-tipping.

Gerwyn Graham Cape, aged 35 of Teglan Park, Tycroes, was convicted in absence for an offence of unlawfully dumping waste contrary to Section 2 of the Refuse Disposal Amenity Act 1978 at Carmarthen Magistrates Court.

The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.

The court heard that council environmental enforcement officers received a report of fly-tipping on a farm driveway at Tycroes.

On arrival at the scene they found several black bags, blue recycling bags, a plastic water container, carpet and child’s tent.

Evidence was found relating to an address in Tycroes and when officers attended the address they spoke to a female who told them she had given her waste to her partner to take to the Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Cape attended a formal interview with officers and conceded that he had taken the waste in a van to the Household Waste Recycling Centre but on arrival saw that the height restriction barrier was down and he was unable to drive the van under it. He then drove to Cwmdu Farm, Tycroes and dumped the waste there.

As well as the fine and costs, magistrates also ordered Crane to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

Council environment bosses are delighted with the result of the case and hope it will act as a warning to others that anyone caught fly-tipping will be prosecuted.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “The council is committed to tackling fly-tipping, which not only spoils our enjoyment of the environment, but can cause serious pollution and harm to human health and wildlife.

“Fly-tipping is a criminal offence and we will not hesitate to prosecute anyone caught breaking the law in this way. More serious cases can result in fines of up to 50,000 and/or up to five years in prison.”

New figures show that there were 1516 recorded incidents of fly-tipping in Carmarthenshire in 2011/12 and it cost the council £163,573 to clear it.

Cllr Jones added: “We are working hard with our partners including the police, Environment Agency Wales and Keep Wales Tidy to stamp out the problem of fly-tipping and improve the quality of the environment in Carmarthenshire.”