Owner of dumped caravan must pay £700 over fly-tipping
A man from the Black Country who owned up to his part in the dumping of a caravan that was packed full of garden rubbish must pay £700.
The caravan was found at Cherrington, near Newport, Shropshire, on June 24.
The van's owner has now been issued with fixed penalty notices totalling £700.
An investigation by a Telford & Wrekin Council traced the van and its contents to a man in the Black Country who admitted he had had a clear-out and hired someone to dispose of it all.
A spokesman for the council said: "The owner didn’t do the necessary checks on the person he paid to get rid of the waste.
"He was issued with two fixed penalty notices: £400 for fly-tipping and £300 for failing in his duty of care by not checking the credentials of the person he hired."
Environmental Enforcement Officer Richard Walmsley explained how he conducted the investigation:
“It was a hot day and it was a very messy job rifling through all the rubbish.
“I couldn’t get into the caravan because it was so full, so, I had to take out the windows through which I removed the material that was inside.
“There were tree stumps that were four feet high and more than a foot in diameter, other garden waste, vehicle parts including a bumper from a 4x4 and an old tyre, slabs, electrical equipment, a gas bottle, magazines and a garden incinerator.
“There were things about the caravan and its contents that led to my identifying this man in the Black Country. The caravan had identification markers on all its windows. Its number plate, removed from the back of the van was inside.
“There were educational certificates, invoices, warranty paperwork, family photos, and employment, bank and DVLA details.
“I also found event tickets, including concert tickets for a Nickelback gig in Manchester last year.
“Eventually, not only did I know who he was, I knew what he and his family had done and where they had been.”
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for enforcement said: “This should act as a warning to anyone thinking of hiring someone to dispose of their waste.
“It’s important, when hiring someone, to check them out. You need to know who they are, what vehicle they will use to take away the waste and where they are taking it to.
“Get the details of their waste carrier licence and make sure you get a receipt.
“Not only could you be liable, as this man was, but personal details were among the rubbish dumped with this caravan on the side of the road.”
Telford & Wrekin Council offers a bulk collection service starting at £18 for up to three items.
