Walsall fly-tipper forced to pay bill of more than £500

Abdul Hussain left the trail of waste including 15 bags in Watery Lane, Walsall, last May.

The 25-year-old was identified through bank records and when interviewed he said he had been in the process of redecorating.

He admitted to the fly tipping on the Walsall Housing Group car park and was fined £135, ordered to pay £400 court costs and a £20 victim surcharge by magistrates.

The court heard that environmental health staff at Walsall Council were able to identify through paper work, mainly bank statements and identification cards found within the rubbish.

The car park is not far from the home of Hussain, of Rutter Street, Walsall. When interviewed he said he was in the process of redecorating his house.

During 2011/12, around £180,000 of public money was spent on cleaning up fly tipping around the borough, and council chiefs are cracking down on the problem.

Residents are now being offered a £100 reward if they supply evidence which helps lead to a successful prosecution for crimes including fly-tipping, fly-posting and vandalism.

David Elrington, environmental health manager, said: "This sends out a clear warning to anyone who fly tips their waste on this site or any other site in Walsall - if you are caught you will face a hefty fine.

"There are many ways to dispose of your waste responsibly including the household waste recycling centres at Fryers Road, Leamore or Merchants Way, Aldridge - free of charge."

It comes as the council has been leading a crackdown on untidy sites around the borough.

The owners of a shopping centre in Walsall, which was at the centre of a failed multi-million pound supermarket revamp, have recently been ordered to clean up the site or face court action.

Walsall Council has issued a formal notice for the Ravenscourt Shopping Centre in Brownhills.

The section 215 notice has been issued on the owner for fly-tipped rubbish to be removed, fascias replaced and timber boarding around units repaired. If work is not undertaken the authority could then take prosecution action.

The complex off the main High Street was poised to be taken over by the neighbouring supermarket Tesco as part of its expansion plans.

But it emerged last spring that the overhaul of the store, creating up to 150 jobs, had been abandoned leaving the future of Ravenscourt in limbo.

Large number of traders have left the precinct and the council has now raised concerns over the appearance the centre has been left in.