On Tuesday, 12 November, Kevin Cartwright from Tiptree appeared at Basildon Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to fly-tipping rubbish on a public highway. He was fined a total of £4,153, including costs and a victim surcharge.
The court heard that the council’s Neighbourhood Team received a report of fly-tipping in a layby off Windmill Hill, Tiptree. Cartwright was caught in the act, dumping three one-ton sacks of garden waste from a van.
The team’s diligent investigation and enquiries lead them to Mr. Cartwright. Initially, Cartwright denied the offence when interviewed, however, after failing to attend his court hearing, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Having been apprehended and brought before the court, he pleaded guilty and received the substantial penalty.
A Colchester City Council Neighbourhood Warden said: “We want people to understand the consequences of fly-tipping. Leaving waste at the side of the road has such detrimental impacts on our environment and communities, as well as taking already limited resources from the council. We’re committed to taking action on those who break the law, though, and will continue to do so.”
The council reiterates that fly-tipping is a serious offence, whether it is large items or smaller household waste items. Perpetrators can face a fixed penalty notice of £1,000 or be taken to court, where they risk unlimited fines or imprisonment.
Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhood Services and Leisure, said: “Our message is clear: we are targeting fly-tippers in Colchester. We will not hesitate to fine or prosecute anyone caught illegally dumping rubbish in our historic city and surrounding areas.
“The council’s Neighbourhood Wardens do a fantastic job keeping our areas clean and safe, and their efforts are enhanced by vigilant residents reporting incidents like those in this case, so thank you to all those involved in securing a successful outcome in this case.”
Residents play a vital role in keeping Colchester clean. Reporting fly-tipping online as soon as possible enables the council’s teams to clear waste quickly and gather evidence to catch offenders.
