Armchairs, mattresses, a shopping trolley and a door – just some items from a heap of rubbish North East Lincolnshire Council enforcement officers had cleared from a Grimsby garden.
It cost the Council £2,000 to remove the rubbish from the long-term empty property in Hainton Avenue.
Owners Peter Reid, 58, and Sara Short, 55 , of Old School Yard, Redbourne, Gainsborough, were punished with fines and court bills totalling £1,894 after ignoring legal warnings to clean up the mess.
An environmental Enforcement officer visited the property on 25 November 2020 after a complaint and found rubbish including broken furniture, a tarpaulin, building materials, tree clippings and mattresses piled up in the garden.
The accumulation of waste was deemed to be a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Sec 79 (1) (e).
Warning letter
Officers sent an introductory warning letter on 4 December 2020 followed by a legal notice on 22 December stating that the rubbish had to be removed within 28 days.
No attempt was made to clear up the mess and the Council arranged for the garden to be cleared by a private contractor in February 2021 at a cost of £2,000.
Reid and Short failed to attend Grimsby Magistrates’ Court on 23 July 2021 and were found guilty in their absence.
The court fined them each £770, imposed a victim surcharge of £77, and ordered them to pay costs of £100, making a total of £947 each. The Council can also begin the process to recover the cost of the clean up.
Cllr Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, said:
“This Hainton Avenue property was a compete eyesore. A massive amount of waste had accumulated in the garden.
“It’s not fair on anyone living near the property to have to put up with such a nuisance.
“When properties are left in such a state, they can attract fly-tipping and other types of anti-social behaviour.
“After our warnings to clear up the mess were ignored, we arranged for the waste to be disposed of and took the owners to court.”
Accumulations or build-up of rubbish and severely overgrown gardens can have a negative impact on the neighbourhood. It becomes a nuisance when it begins to smell, encourages vermin or is unsightly.
If you believe the rubbish is attracting vermin or contains food waste you need to report using the online form at www.nelincs.gov.uk/keeping-our-area-clean-and-safe/nuisance-behaviour/.
Environmental Enforcement action
North East Lincolnshire Council successful court prosecutions since 1 April 2021:
- Washing machine fly-tipped at Garibaldi Street car park on 18 May 2019. In court 30 April 2021. Fine £325, costs £358 and VSC £32
- Car used in two fly-tips committed on 18 May 2020 at Garibaldi Street car park bring to site. In court 12 July 2021. Fine £100 for each offence, costs £202 and VSC £32
- Van used in fly-tipping offence committed 29 March 2020 at Waltham Road recycling banks. In court 2 July 2021. Fine £150, costs £404.33, VSC £32
- Glass table top and other items fly-tipped at Garibaldi Street car park on 18 May 2019. In court 2 July 2021. Fine £215, costs £250, VSC £30
- Household waste fly-tipped on 26 and 27 December 2019 at Garibaldi Street car park. In court 8 July 2021 (arrested on a warrant). Fine £200 for each offence, costs £424, VSC £32
- Waste in garden Hainton Avenue. In court 23 July 2021. The court fined the two owners £770 each, imposed a victim surcharge of £77, and ordered them to pay costs of £100, making a total of £947 each.
- Household waste fly-tipped on 18 May 2020 at Garibaldi Street car park. In court 23 July 2021. Fine £70.
- Household waste fly-tipped on 26 December 2018 and 26 December 2019 at Garibaldi Street car park. In court 23 July 2021. Fine £515. No order was made for costs.
Fixed Penalty Notices given since 1 April 2021 for fly-tipping and related offences
- 3 x Failing to give Waste to an Authorised Waste Carrier
- 4 x Failing to Produce Waste Transfer Notes
- 6 x Fly-tipping
More photographs
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