On Tuesday, October 20, at Redhill Magistrates’ Court, Charlie Chapman of Mid Street, South Nutfield, pleaded guilty to failing to deal with waste legally.
He was fined a total of £700 and ordered to pay the clean-up costs to Tandridge District Council of £498, as well as £35 to the victim support fund.
The incident, which occurred close to the Little Brook Equestrian centre, was so bad it meant the road had to be closed for several hours.
Chapman, 22, was caught after the council’s waste enforcement officer recovered paperwork from three addresses amongst the rubbish.
This was traced to a builder who had worked at two of the addresses, and had used the defendant to dispose of the waste.
When asked to attend an interview with the council, Chapman was unable to produce any waste transfer notes for the waste he removed and he was not a licensed waste carrier.
Councillor Jeremy Pursehouse, Lib Dem group leader for Tandridge District Council, said the incident is all too familiar across the district.
“Sadly, this isn’t unusual,” he said. “It happens right across the district, and the big concern is that fly-tipping costs the council £35,000 a year to clean up, and this of course is tax-payers’ money.
“All of this is money that could be put to better use elsewhere, such as giving grants to charitable organisations or improving our roads. Instead, it is used to clean up after these criminals.
“In my view, anybody who gets fined for fly-tipping deserves it, though I think the courts should come down harder on them as unfortunately, they get away with it more times than they are caught. I think there should be powers to remove their vehicles if necessary; we should really hit them where it hurts.”
A reward of up to £500 is offered by Tandridge District Council to anyone who provides information which leads to a successful prosecution for fly-tipping.
And Cllr Pursehouse says people who litter are just as responsible.
He said: “We get uptight about fly-tipping in country lanes, but law-abiding people who think nothing of chucking their fast food waste out of their car window – normally when they are well within reach of a litter bin – are just as bad.”
Councillor Tony Elias, district council chairman of the community services committee, added: “We take a tough line on fly-tipping and will prosecute anyone we believe is guilty of that offence.”
To report an incident of fly-tipping as it happens, call Surrey Police on 999. If it is not in progress, but you have information, go to www.tandridge.gov.uk/flytipping or call 01883 722000.
And if fly-tipping is blocking a road, call Surrey County Council on 0300 200 1003.
