Woman fined over bags of rubbish in back garden

Rotherham Council had to move the rubbish from Lindsey Steel’s garden in Doe Quarry Lane, Dinnington, despite her being served with a notice to remove them.

She had been served with an abatement notice in November 2011, following a complaint from a neighbour.

Rotherham Council investigated and discovered masses of household rubbish in the back garden of Steel’s privately-rented house.

Although the notice gave her 14 days to remove the waste, the 50 black bin bags remained, so council officials decided to clear it and report the matter to the courts.

Coun Rose McNeely, cabinet member for neighbourhoods at Rotherham Council, said: “You cannot keep this amount of household rubbish in a garden.

“It is both unsightly and unhealthy, particularly for neighbouring properties, and the authority will take very robust enforcement action when necessary.”

At Rotherham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 16, Steel was found guilty in her absence of failing to comply with the abatement notice.

She was fined £400 and ordered to pay more than £440 in costs, plus a £15 victim surcharge.