Hampshire man fined £500 for his role in 'dangerous' fly-tip along unlit country lane

Max Robbins, of London Road, Cowplain, was prosecuted by East Hampshire District Council for his part in blocking Lone Barn Lane in Catherington.

The council has branded the waste as a ‘large, dangerous fly-tip’ that took four hours to clear.

Road users alerted the district council via Facebook, pointing out the car parts and maintenance kit had been left along with rubble.

Enforcement officers caught Robbins out when they searched the rubbish on the same day of the report.

They found paperwork linked to him at the site.

A council statement said: ‘The rubbish had been dumped on a blind bend on the unlit road, posing a danger to motorists and pedestrians. The road was closed for four hours as it was cleared.’

It added: ‘During the investigations Robbins admitted he had paid someone £60 to take away car parts.

‘He could not provide full contact details of the person and had no official paperwork accounting for the transfer of waste.’

Robbins admitted an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month conditional discharge with £21 surcharge and and £500 costs.

Councillor Ingrid Thomas said: ‘When hiring someone to take your waste away make sure you get the right paperwork, and then you can be more confident it is going to be disposed of responsibly.

‘If you don’t and your waste is fly-tipped you could end up being caught with a fine or fixed penalty notice.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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