Tenant fined for ignoring warnings to remove rubbish

A TENANT who continued to let rubbish pile up outside his home despite receiving Despite visits

multiple warnings is from Pembrokeshire

facing a hefty court bill. County Council (PCC)

Richard Cook Environmental Services of Trafalgar Road, staff to educate and Haverfordwest, had been offer advice, plus

nd warnings issued with a Community from Public Protection Notice (CPN) Health officers and Mr following repeated Cook’s landlords ATEB, incidents where refuse the situation remained and household waste was unchanged. left outside the property. The CPN was issued

The situation reached on November 29th 2023, a level where it was requiring Mr Cook to considered to be a risk to remove all refuse and public health, safety and household waste from the welfare and the rubbish front and the rear grounds was attracting rats. of the property and dispose of it appropriately within 14 days.

When the CPN was served there was a large accumulation of uncovered black refuse sacks containing household waste, old cardboard boxes and a smashed door left in the front of the property.

On Wednesday 13th December 2023, a PCC Public Health Officer attended again at the property and found there was still refuse/ household waste and a mass of uncovered black bags piled in a large heap at the front of the property.

The tenant had also made no effort whatsoever to clear the refuse and accumulated waste from the rear grounds of the property.

A prosecution was subsequently taken for breach of the CPN.

Mr Cook failed to attend Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Thursday 4th April 2024 and the case was proved in his absence.

He was fined £440 and must pay surcharge of £176, plus full costs of £1,235.90.

The Council will now consider direct action and charging the outstanding amount back from Mr Cook.

Cllr Michelle Bateman, Council Cabinet Member for Housing Operations and Regulatory Services, said: “Our officers and partners from ATEB have tried many times to engage with Mr Cook and try to resolve this issue without having to resort to enforcement.

“However, the requests have simply been ignored and we have been left with no choice but to use the powers available to force removal of this waste which is attracting rats and vermin.

“I welcome the court’s decision to impose a significant fine in this case.”