A woman in Warrington has been convicted following a council investigation into fly-tipping in the Bewsey and Whitecross area.
Luliana Chiru of Wellfield Street, Warrington, pleaded guilty to offences at Warrington Magistrates Court. The case followed the discovery of fly-tipped waste in an alleyway on Wellfield Street. The waste, which included furniture, cardboard boxes and a parcel box, had been deposited on the pavement to the rear of residential properties.
The investigation traced the waste to Ms Chiru, and opportunities were provided for her to explain how the waste had come to be fly-tipped. Ms Chiru did not respond to requests for contact, and the matter was then progressed to court.
The case was heard at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 26 August. Ms Chiru pleaded guilty to offences relating to the improper disposal of household waste and failing to provide information requested as part of the council’s investigation.
Taking into account her guilty pleas, the court imposed a fine of £480, together with a victim surcharge of £192 and £620 towards clean-up costs, bringing the total financial penalty to £1,292.
Councillor John Kerr-Brown, Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing and Public Protection, said: “This is another prosecution that highlights the importance of residents disposing of their waste responsibly. Dumping waste on the street blights neighbourhoods, harms the environment and creates unnecessary costs for taxpayers.
“The council operates a bulky waste collection service, and residents can also arrange for waste to be removed by a registered waste carrier. Before paying someone to remove waste, residents should always check that the carrier is properly registered and request a receipt or written record of the transfer. Keeping these details provides evidence that reasonable steps have been taken to ensure waste is handled and disposed of lawfully.
“Where residents choose to disregard their responsibilities and fail to dispose of their waste properly, causing harm to their neighbourhood and inconvenience to their neighbours, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action.”
Residents can provide information relating to fly-tipping incidents on the council’s website at warrington.gov.uk/fly-tipping. For more information about licences and permits, visit warrington.gov.uk/licences-and-permits.
