£1,300 cost of waste dump
AWEST Lancashire man has been ordered to stump up more than £1,300 after he dumped unwanted furniture in a Lathom lay-by.
Peter Hornby, of Tower Hill Road, Up Holland, was fined £500 and ordered to pay £766 costs and a £50 victim surcharge at Wigan Magistrates’ Court for dumping waste in Cobbs Brow Lane.
West Lancashire Borough Council said that others should take Mr Hornby’s case as a warning, and that fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence.
The court heard how Hornby tried to take the contents of a relative’s property to a Lancashire County Council household waste and recycling centre. The items included carpets, cushions, an armchair and a table.
But he was turned away as he was in a commercial vehicle. Hornby then dumped the unwanted items in a lay-by in Cobbs Brow Lane.
Council officers traced the waste through correspondence addressed to his relative that was found in the dumped items.
When interviewed, Mr Hornby admitted what he had done.
In passing sentence, the magistrates’ chairman told Hornby his behaviour was “unacceptable” and that it was a good job everyone didn’t do it as the world would be in a poor state.
Dave Tilleray, West Lancashire Borough Council director of leisure and wellbeing – and head of the environmental enforcement team – said: “There may be sad circumstances around this case but fly-tipping is still illegal and creates an eyesore on our local environment. The council taxpayer has to foot the bill for clearing it up.
“The council must enforce the law to protect the environment for all local residents. I would remind all householders – and businesses – that they should dispose of their waste correctly. If they do not they could face legal action.”
Problems with fly-tipping can be reported online at westlancs.gov. uk/flytipping, or call 01695 577177 8.30am5.30pm, Monday-Friday.