Woodland fly-tipper fined hundreds of pounds

Chelmsford City Council has successfully prosecuted a fly-tipper who left bags of rubbish strewn around a woodland.



In November 2018, local residents alerted Council officers to fly-tipping in the wooded area next to Melbourne Park.

Investigating officers found bags and boxes full of general household and recyclable waste. The fly-tip was traced back to Mr Craig Lilywhite of Cheviot Drive, Chelmsford.



Mr Lilywhite was asked to co-operate with the Council's investigation, but failed to do so and was prosecuted for the offence of fly-tipping under the Environmental Protection Act (1990).



The case was heard at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Thursday 25 July. Pleading guilty, Mr Lilywhite was given a £400 fine and ordered to pay £372.28 in court costs.



Councillor Jude Deakin, Cabinet Member for Greener Chelmsford, said, "Woodlands are a place where plants and wildlife should be allowed to thrive, where people can relax and where children can explore through play. The selfish act of fly-tipping doesn't just make an area look messy - it's hazardous to wildlife and passers-by and pollutes our environment. This case sends a strong message that we will always investigate environmental crime."



To report a fly-tip near you, please visithttp://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/environment/report-a-street-problem/report-fly-tipping.