Fly-tipper dumped TV and bed base

Rui Pinto (37) of Linkside, Bretton, pleaded guilty to fly-tipping at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court last month.

He was fined £320 and ordered to pay costs of £300 and a victim surcharge of £32.

The case stems from October 2015 when a council neighbourhood enforcement officer attended a fly-tip to find items dumped on land at Linkside. During a search of the waste, evidence incriminating Pinto was discovered.

Councillor Irene Walsh, Peterborough City Council cabinet member for communities and environment capital, said: “We have a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping and will always seek to prosecute where there is enough evidence, as this latest case shows.

“Not only does fly-tipping ruin the look of our city, it also costs taxpayers in this city around £250,000 a year to clean-up which is unacceptable.”

Under new government regulations which came into force on May 9, anyone caught fly-tipping will now be fined £300, which is reduced to £180 if it is paid within 21 days.

Prior to this date the fine was £75.

The city’s new prevention and enforcement service which brings together officers from the council, police, fire and private sector has increased the capacity to investigate fly-tipping across the city.

Since its launch last month the new team has dealt with 675 incidents of fly-tipping.

In the six months to May 2016, the council has issued 33 warning letters to individuals and businesses and 18 fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping.

In addition, council leader Cllr John Holdich has said he will introduce a Grot Spot hotline at the authority in the near future.

This was in response to a Peterborough Telegraph campaign after our readers sent in dozens of examples of dumped waste in the city.

Cllr Walsh added: “It’s hard to understand why someone would choose to risk a court appearance and a fine of hundreds of pounds when we offer a bulky waste collection service for just £23.50.”

Incidents of fly-tipping can be reported via the My Peterborough App. Alternatively, call 01733 747474 and give as many details as possible.