Rubbish in gardens
leads to legal action

The offenders ignored advice, warnings and legal notices from Rotherham Borough Council’s community protection unit to remove rubbish from their gardens and were fined a total of £3,200.

The cabinet member for safe and attractive neighbourhoods, Coun Rose McNeely, stressed the convictions indicated more legal proceedings will be launched in the future if necessary.

She added: “Unfortunately they did not respond to the warnings and have now faced the consequences of their actions and have been taken to court. These people did not see the need to improve their gardens and continued to cause unacceptable nuisance to their neighbours. But anyone who fails to clean up after themselves cannot be tolerated. We always advise and support residents to change their ways. But if that fails, the council will not stand by and let it happen. We will take firm action, particularly when such behaviour impacts on neighbours and the local area.”

The offenders were found guilty in their absence by Rotherham magistrates for failing to comply with abatement notices issued by the authority.

Michael Harrison of Doe Quarry Lane, Dinnington, was fined £400 for not removing a large amount of dog faeces and a sofa dumped in his garden. Elizabeth Laverick of Victoria Street, Dinnington, was fined £455 for not removing rubbish dumped in black bin liners from the rear of her home. Shane Allen and Theresa Smith of Burns Road, Maltby, were each fined £465 for allowing large amounts of black bin liners and nappies to build up in the rear garden of their property. Torin Nelson was fined a total of £1,415 for repeatedly failing to remove food waste and household rubbish dumped in a rear garden in Bawtry Road, Wickersley.

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