Published: Wednesday 11th May 2022 | 4.30pm
A recent court case has demonstrated Cannock Chase Council’s zero tolerance approach towards fly tipping.
Michelle Blackmoor, of Harden Road, Walsall, pleaded guilty at Cannock Magistrates Court on 3 May 2022, to an offence under Section 34 Environmental Protection Act 1990, of failing in her duty of care to ensure her waste was properly and legally disposed of.
Ms. Blackmoor was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £510.00 after having paid an unknown male £30 to dispose of several black bags full of household waste, broken bits of chipboard, metal and some building rubble, which was later found dumped in Wyrley Lane, Cannock.
Officers from the Council’s Environmental Health service tracked the waste back to Ms. Blackmoor. When Ms. Blackmoor initially failed to attend court, the Council requested an arrest warrant and Ms. Blackmoor was later arrested for the offence.
Councillor Justin Johnson, Portfolio Leader for Environment & Climate Change said “This case began prior to the pandemic and Council Officers have worked hard to ensure a successful conclusion, despite all of the service disruption caused by Covid-19, the very lengthy delays in bringing this matter before the Courts, and the need to arrest this individual.
“The Council is determined to ensure Cannock Chase is a place that our residents are proud to call home. We aim to ensure our neighbourhoods are safe, clean, and tidy and we will not tolerate fly tipping or other environmental crime in our District.
“We would urge all householders to always check, that people they pay to remove waste have a waste carriers registration and obtain from them a waste transfer note and a receipt or invoice. Registration can be checked online via the Environment Agency https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carrie... “ {Link no longer live}
Anyone who witnesses fly tipping in the district is urged to report it to Cannock Chase Council by calling 01543 462621. Key information to pass on includes:
- The date and time of the incident
- The model, make, registration number and colour of any vehicle used
- A description of the offender or offenders
- Details of any documents in the waste