Residents fined for fly-tipping household rubbish

Four Wiltshire residents have been fined a total of £2,800 in fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping

Several members of the public have paid the price after being found responsible for fly-tipping in Wiltshire.

One person from Swindon, two Royal Wootton Bassett residents and one from Bath have all been issued fixed penalty notices (FPN) for fly-tipping offences.

One man was issued a £1,000 fine after his vehicle was spotted tipping waste.

Councillor Nick Holder said: "We will take action against anyone who dumps waste in our beautiful county."

A couple from Royal Wootton Bassett have both been issued with £600 fines after using an unlicensed waste carrier to remove waste from their property on two separate occasions.

It was found fly-tipped in a lay-by off Swindon Road in the town.

A Bath resident was also issued with a £600 fine after their rubbish was found fly-tipped in Longleat Forest, near Warminster.

Wiltshire Council’s enforcement officers are coming across cannabis offshoots, animal carcasses chopped up into bin bags and firearms in fly-tips

In both of these cases, the residents could not provide any information that could have traced the people responsible for fly-tipping the waste.

The most common source of fly-tipping involves rubbish being passed onto someone who claimed they would dispose of it correctly.

Wiltshire Council’s Stop at Source (SAS) message makes it clear that the responsibility lies with both parties.

Mr Holder said: "Incidents like this serve as a timely reminder to anyone who is considering using a waste clearance service, always check they have a valid upper-tier waste carrier licence, note their vehicle registration and details, and get a receipt.

"If you fail to do this and they dump the waste, you could be investigated and ultimately fined."