Fly-tippers fined hundreds of pounds for dumping rubbish at South Cambridgeshire car parks
Two people have been fined hundreds of pounds for illegally dumping rubbish in South Cambridgeshire car parks.
One was fined £700 for fly-tipping when they left waste next to the clothing banks in the car park near Home Bargains in Cambourne.
The other was fined £240 for littering when they threw waste on the car park floor at Longstanton recreation ground, without trying to recover it.
Cllr Natalie Warren Green, lead cabinet member for environmental services and waste for South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “The fines serve as a clear warning that illegal waste disposal will not be tolerated, and that offenders will face serious consequences. Fly-tipping and littering is a blight on our communities, turning our shared spaces into eyesores and putting an unfair burden on our residents to report incidences. It’s not just illegal, it’s a selfish act that devalues our neighbourhoods, threatens wildlife and disrespects the hard work we all put into making the district a great place to live.”
In Cambourne, a resident left a cardboard box and personal correspondence next to the clothing banks, which was found by a council environmental crime officer. The owners were formally interviewed under caution where they admitted leaving items next to the bins, which is considered fly tipping.
They were issued with a fixed penalty notice of £700, reduced to £420 if paid within 10 days.
Cllr Dr Shrobona Bhattacharya, district councillor of Cambourne ward, said: “I have received numerous complaints from residents about the illegal dumping of rubbish at this car park. This has been an ongoing problem, and it’s frustrating to see that some people continue to engage in this unlawful behaviour, whether knowingly or unknowingly.
“It is unacceptable that a few individuals are causing trouble for the entire community by dumping waste irresponsibly."
In the Longstanton recreation ground littering incident, a local resident was fined £240 after they were seen by environmental crime enforcement officers throwing waste onto the ground in the car park without trying to recover it.
Fly-tipping – or illegally dumping waste on land without a permit – is a criminal offence under the environmental protection act for which the courts can impose a maximum fine of £50,000 or an unlimited fine and up to five years in prison. Littering is also an offence under the Environmental Protection Act. South Cambridgeshire District Council has set its upper limit for fixed penalty notices at £400.