Regular readers of Haddenham.net will know that one of your editor's pet hates is Fly Tipping. So it is with great satisfaction that he is able to relate details of the following successful prosecution, as announced by Bucks County Council.
Tiago Nuno Dos Santos Celho (32) of Cowley Road, London, pleaded guilty at Wycombe Magistrates Court last week (9th September 2015) to an offence of depositing waste illegally at a lay-by on the A418 between Cuddington and Haddenham.
The court heard that on Monday 27th October 2014, an investigator from the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire found waste dumped at the lay-by which, on examination, was found to be a professional cleaning company's vacuuming and associated waste. A waste item was traced to an address in Knightsbridge, London, which led to the identification of the cleaning company and the driver who visited the lay-by.
When interviewed by Waste Partnership investigators, Mr Santos Celho admitted depositing the waste himself. He said he had been early for an appointment and had decided to tidy his van. He said that the tidying had led to him taking items out of the van, which included the waste from his previous job, and placing them on the ground.
The investigator was able to confirm the cleaning company's usual disposal arrangements and it was clear that Mr Santos Celho had had no reason to dump the waste. It was decided that he should be offered a simple caution rather than being prosecuted through the courts; but despite being told several times that he would be prosecuted if he decided not to accept the caution, he declined to accept it and the court case followed.
The Magistrates conditionally discharged Mr Santos Celho for six months and ordered him to pay clean-up and prosecution costs of £600. A victim surcharge of £15 was also levied, making a total to pay of £615.
The case was prosecuted by Buckinghamshire County Council working on behalf of the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire.
The Waste Partnership launched the 'Illegal Dumping Costs' campaign in October 2003 to combat illegal dumping and waste management offences in Buckinghamshire. Since then, the Partnership has secured 496 convictions against individuals and companies for illegal dumping and related offences. On average, there is at least one conviction per week for illegal dumping offences in Buckinghamshire. This has resulted in a halving of reported incidents and a saving of over £1 million for residents.
Bucks CC has made reporting fly-tipping easy: upload details including location and photos online or on your mobile at www.buckscc.gov.uk/fly
