A MAN has been fined, in the first case of its kind in the area, for not preventing his waste from being fly-tipped.

Jeremy Sansome of Mayfield Crescent, Lower Stondon, was fined £100 by Stevenage Magistrates Court on June 21 after a prosecution was brought by North Herts District Council (NHDC) for fly-tipping.

The 55-year-old pleaded guilty to not taking reasonable steps to prevent his waste from being fly-tipped.

He denied fly-tipping the waste himself, but was prosecuted on because he failed to offer an explanation as to how five black sacks containing his waste was found on the verge at Newnham Road, Radwell near Baldock.

The sacks containing general household waste, contained numerous letters to Sansome at his home address.

Cllr Bernard Lovewell, NHDC portfolio holder for housing and environmental health, said: “This is the council’s first successful prosecution for someone failing to prevent their waste from being fly-tipped illegally and we will consider taking similar action in the future.

“We urge residents to make sure that all waste is disposed of in the appropriate way. If they are having any works carried out in and around their property, it is essential that they check that the contractor has a waste carrier’s licence for removal of any waste. As this prosecution shows, people can be found guilty of fly-tipping if they haven’t taken steps to ensure their waste is disposed of properly, even if that is done by someone else.”

To report incidents of fly-tipping in North Herts call 0800 328 6023 or if you witness fly-tipping in progress you can contact the Hertfordshire Constabulary by calling 101.