Council continues fly-tipping crackdown

Officers from York Council’s street environment service have sent out a stark message to the public that anyone caught littering could face fines running into hundreds of pounds.

In one of the latest legal cases, a coach driver was fined after illegally dumping two refuse sacks of rubbish from his vehicle into a hedgerow in a lay-by on the A1237 in York.

Thomas Robinson, of Tommy’s Travel from South Shields, received a £250 fine from York magistrates after he pleaded guilty to fly-tipping.

Robinson had initially faced a £300 fine although this was reduced after magistrates took into account his early plea, and he was also ordered to pay £400 to cover the city council’s legal costs.

York Council’s head of environmental enforcement, Liz Levett, said: “There is no excuse for anyone to fly-tip or drop litter.

“It damages the environment, attracts more fly-tipping and litter and costs the authority and other landowners millions of pounds to clear up each year.

“I know that York’s residents, businesses and visitors want to live, work and visit our beautiful city and see it clean and tidy and be proud of York. We do not tolerate fly-tipping or those who drop litter.

“A number of other cases are due to appear in court in the coming months and I would like to thank all those who do care for our city and have brought incidents to our attention.”

The council’s street environment service has also brought prosecutions against offenders who have dropped litter and chosen not to accept fixed penalty notices.

Recent cases which have been heard at York Magistrates’ Court for litter offences have seen fines ranging from £75 to £150, with costs awarded to the council of £240.