Fly-tipper to pay thousands after dumping large amounts of waste in South Downs National Park

Matthew Bartlett received the fine after pleading guilty to three fly-tipping offences at Southampton Magistrates’ Court.

The 28-year-old dumped the waste, which includes a child’s trike, on the path off Cott Street in Swanmore, part of the South Downs National Park.

District Judge Morgan ordered Bartlett, of Winchester Street, Botley, to pay £6,316.92 in total – £3,100 for the offences, £291.92 for clearing up the tips and £2,925 in prosecution and investigation costs.

Paint pots, garden waste, cardboard, wood and sheets were included in the mess that was dumped in the path.

Councillor Lisa Griffiths, 
portfolio holder for community safety at Winchester City Council said: ‘I hope that the successful prosecution of another fly-tipping perpetrator sends out a clear message.

‘It shows the council will vigorously pursue those who carry out this anti-social offences, which is such a blight on our beautiful open spaces and when prosecution follows, will seek the most serious penalties for those involved.’

Councils across the area have been tackling a surge in fly-tippers recently and The News previously revealed that it has set back local authorities more than £430,000 over the last year.

Six councils, Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham, Gosport, East Hampshire and Winchester, spent £137,214 on enforcement and £295,903 on clearing up thousands of ditched items across the countryside. A total of 4,309 incidents on highways, railways, footpaths and council land were reported over the same period.

A Hampshire-wide fly-tipping strategy is being developed by a Campaign to Protect Rural England.