FLY-TIP LEADS TO FINES AND COSTS OF ALMOST £4,000….WEST THORNTON BY-ELECTION IN MAY AFTER COUNCILLOR RESIGNATION…….CHIEF EXECUTIVE QUITS
FLY-TIP LEADS TO FINES AND COSTS OF ALMOST £4,000
An Orpington trader has been fined more than £3,000 following an investigation into a fly-tip incident.
The latest prosecution highlights the need to make checks to ensure that the trader or business is a legitimate waste disposal operator with a waste carrier licence, say Bromley council.
At Bromley magistrates court the trader pleaded guilty to one charge under section 34 of the Environment Protection Action 1990 and one charge under section one of the Control of Pollution Act. He was fined £3,200 plus £120 victim surcharge and ordered to pay £558 in costs.
The court heard that an investigation into a small van load of waste found dumped on the pavement in Homesdale Road had been traced to a job undertaken by the trader.
The waste consisted of around half a dozen bags containing household and personal items, including a briefcase and an old curtain.
The investigation concluded that the firm had been employed to move household furniture and other items in connection with a house removal and it was some of these items that had been subsequently dumped.
A Bromley council spokesman said: “Businesses and residents have a duty of care to dispose of their waste responsibly or they could face a substantial fine or court action under the Environment Protection Act 1990.
“Householders should be cautious about giving their garden or building waste to cold callers offering a cheap deal to remove it. “By law, waste carriers must pay to dispose waste at a waste transfer station but unauthorised waste carriers may evade these costs by dumping the waste.
“To ensure the business is legitimate, residents are advised to ask to see their waste carriers licence or check online at www.gov.uk/find-registered-waste-carrier before handing over any waste.
“Anyone choosing to use an unauthorised waste carrier risks a fine of up to £5,000 if the waste is dumped and traced back to the householder.
“Trade waste must be disposed of either through the council’s business waste disposal service or a commercial licensed waste carrier. “Businesses wishing to arrange regular trade waste collections should visit www.bromley.gov.uk/wastenews.
Bromley council’s executive councillor for public protection Councillor Kate Lymer said they were working with the police to target traders to make sure they are properly licensed.
“We all need to be ultra-cautious when disposing of waste, including when gardeners or decorators dispose of waste on our behalf.
“Failure to make the checks could result in your waste being dumped around the corner or in a country lane and not only could this be downright dangerous, it could also result in prosecution.”
More information and advice on how to dispose of all types of waste is available at www.bromley.gov.uk/wastenews (Source: Bromley council press release)
WEST THORNTON BY-ELECTION IN MAY AFTER COUNCILLOR RESIGNATION
Voters in West Thornton will be electing a new local councillor on 5 May after Labour member Emily Benn announced she was stepping down to take a work promotion in the United States.
Cllr Benn, who has held the seat since 2014, announced via social media earlier this month that she was moving to New York and would therefore be giving up her seat.
Croydon council will now hold a by-election to find Councillor Benn’s replacement on 5 May, with a statutory deadline for candidate nominations set for 4pm on Thursday, 7 April.
The council are also urging anyone in the West Thornton ward not on the electoral register to sign up. Completed applications to register to vote must reach the council’s electoral registration officer at Croydon Town Hall by no later than Monday 18 April.
The by-election will be held on the same day as voting for the London Assembly and Mayor of London.
For more information on the West Thornton by-election, including how to obtain a nomination pack to stand as a candidate or for deadlines on voting by post or by proxy, please visit the by-election page on the council’s website.
For more general information on how to vote or check if you are registered, please visit www.croydon.gov.uk/elections (Source: Croydon council press release)
CHIEF EXECUTIVE QUITS
Nathan Elvery, chief executive of Croydon council has confirmed he will be leaving having been successfully appointed to the position of chief executive for West Sussex county council. He has been at Croydon Council for 12 years in a number of senior roles and has been chief executive since 2013. (Source: Croydon council press release)
