Receives a court summons for allegedly dumping waste in Putney Park Lane


Fly-tip on Putney Park Lane

The discovery of a large fly-tip in Putney Park Lane at the end of May has led to a local resident being issued with a summons to attend Lavender Hill magistrates on 14 August.

He is accused of an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for being responsible for the fly-tip that included a carpet, microwave, a folding bed, plastic laundry baskets and more than a dozen black bin-bags.

The summons follows an investigation carried out by the council’s parks police service, which led them to the front door of a nearby property.

The maximum penalty that can be imposed by the courts following conviction for a serious fly-tip offence is an unlimited fine and/or a prison sentence of up to five years.

People having work done on their properties should always check with their builders and any other contractors precisely how they will be disposing of any waste materials to avoid committing any offences. They should be extremely wary of anyone knocking on their doors unannounced and offering to take away their rubbish. They may unknowingly be giving waste to cowboy waste contractors that often drive around residential areas looking for homes that are being refurbished or cleared and approach the owner offering to take any refuse away for a cut price rate.

However, instead of taking it to a proper waste disposal site and paying the appropriate fees, they simply dump it somewhere nearby, often in parks or other open spaces.

In these cases it is not just the fly-tipper who is committing a crime, the householder who paid them to take their waste away is also liable under the law.

Anyone with information about rubbish being dumped should telephone (020) 8871 6396 or email  flytipwitness@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk .

Aidan Coyle

July 10, 2018