Fly-tipper handed £3,000 fine after council crackdown

A MAN who was caught fly-tipping at five sites across the Hampshire countryside has been made to pay nearly £3,000.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Dec 2016, 05:55 BST
Updated 29th Dec 2016, 15:11 BST
Rubbish dumped by Michael Levy at Raglington Farm, Shedfield. He has been prosecuted and fined £3,000Rubbish dumped by Michael Levy at Raglington Farm, Shedfield. He has been prosecuted and fined £3,000
Rubbish dumped by Michael Levy at Raglington Farm, Shedfield. He has been prosecuted and fined £3,000

Michael Levy, 28, was prosecuted by Winchester City Council for five offences contrary to section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

He had thrown items such as plastic boxes, broken furniture, carpet and fence panels, plus more at the rural locations.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Levy appeared before Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court and admitted all five offences. The magistrates made Levy pay £2,951 for the offences. He was ordered to pay £1,576 towards the cost of prosecution, £1,250 fine and £125 towards a victim surcharge fund.

Rubbish fly-tipped by Michael Levy at Crooked Walk Lane, SouthwickRubbish fly-tipped by Michael Levy at Crooked Walk Lane, Southwick
Rubbish fly-tipped by Michael Levy at Crooked Walk Lane, Southwick

His actions were condemned by councillors and the sentence welcomed.

Cllr Vivian Achwal, who represents the Shedfield and Whiteley ward on the city council, said: ‘We need to crack down on people who fly-tip. Incidents like this are getting worse, especially with the introduction of charges at the waste recycling centres.

‘It is good to see a prosecution like this and it is a shame that we can’t catch more a few more offenders.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘£3,000 is hopefully enough punishment to deter him from doing it again.

Rubbish fly-tipped by Michael Levy at Crooked Walk Lane, SouthwickRubbish fly-tipped by Michael Levy at Crooked Walk Lane, Southwick
Rubbish fly-tipped by Michael Levy at Crooked Walk Lane, Southwick

‘Each time there is an incident of fly-tipping it costs the council and the tax payer money to clear it up and it makes an eyesore out of the area as well.’

Levy, of The Drive, Southampton, dumped rubbish at Netherhill Lane in Durley three times on January 21, Crooked Walk Lane in Southwick on March 24, and Raglington Farm in Shedfield on March 31. Two of the fly-tips were on private property.

Cllr Frank Pearson, the council’s portfolio holder for environment, health and wellbeing, said: ‘Fly-tipping is irresponsible and spoils the environment for everyone.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘As this prosecution shows, Winchester City Council takes the matter seriously and will take strong action where the evidence supports it.

‘The council will investigate fly-tipping on private land but is not in a position to use public money for clearance in those cases.’

Cllr Achwal encouraged people to download the Your Winchester app from Winchester City Council to report incidents of fly-tipping to the council.

She said: ‘You can take photos and send them to the council instantly, and within a few days they come along and clear it up.’

For more go to winchester.gov.uk