BUSHEY MAN FINED FOR FLYTIPPING

A Bushey man has been fined after a road was temporarily blocked when builders’ waste there. Levi Carey, a scrap metal collector from Sandy Lane, Bushey appeared at Watford Magistrates Court last month. In October 2013, he arranged with a builder at a site in Watford to remove mixed builders’ waste from the property.  Six days later the waste was found in Hilfield Lane, Aldenham, where it temporarily blocked the road. Environmental Health Officers from Hertsmere Borough Council were alerted after a police tip off. A document was found within the waste by a police officer which led the investigation to the Watford building site and Carey was traced through the mobile phone number he gave to the builder. Carey pleaded guilty at court to four charges  – failing to take all reasonable measures to prevent the unlawful dumping of waste by another person; failing to prevent the escape of waste;  failing to ensure the waste was transferred only to an authorised person and failing to provide a written description of the waste on transfer.  He was fined £200 plus costs of £273 and a £20 victim surcharge. His scrap metal collectors’ licence may now be reviewed. Cllr Jean Heywood, portfolio holder for environment and transport, commented:  “Fly-tipping is a serious crime for which a court can impose an unlimited fine and up to five years’ imprisonment. The council works in partnership with the local police to trace and apprehend offenders and this fine should send out a clear message that robust action will be taken.” Principal Environmental Health Officer, Gavin Burns, added: “Anybody who passes waste to an unidentified person without exchanging traceable paperwork immediately commits an offence. This also applies to local residents, who should not pay to have waste removed from their property without first checking that the person removing the waste is a licensed waste carrier.” PC Phil Tuck from Hertfordshire Constabulary commented: “We were very pleased to track down Carey and bring him before the courts as fly-tipping is a serious offence and it is often difficult to find the person responsible.  I hope this case serves as a reminder to residents that fly-tipping not only blights a community but it can be dangerous if it causes an obstruction, as in this case.”