Fly-tipper caught on CCTV dumping tarmac near farmer’s field
© Durham County Council A man has lost his job and been ordered to pay almost £400 after CCTV footage caught him dumping tarmac next to a farmer’s field in County Durham.
The waste was found strewn across the entrance to a field on Petwell Lane, Easington Colliery, in August last year.
See also: What to do if you’re a victim of… fly-tipping
CCTV footage showed two fly-tipping incidents had taken place that month, one on 7 August and the other on 14 August, when two men were shown getting out of a white Ford Transit tipper-type van and leaving the tarmac at the rear.
The landowner had not given permission to anyone to deposit on the land.
An investigation found George Turton had been the driver of the van.
In a hearing at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court, Mr Turton, 64, admitted a charge of depositing controlled waste otherwise than in accordance with an environmental permit.
In mitigation, Mr Turton said he was working for a construction company and believed the land was council-owned and that he could dump tarmac in unfilled holes on council land.
He would then return and cover them with a base coat. Mr Turton accepted he did not have this permission and the land was privately owned. He lost his job following the incident.
Mr Turton, of Tarn Close, Peterlee, was fined £80 by magistrates and ordered to pay a £34 victim surcharge, as well as £130 legal costs and £150 investigation costs.
‘No excuse’
Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “These cases are a reminder that we will always do all we can to hold those who fly-tip to account.
“Businesses must make sure that they dispose of waste correctly and householders should also check that anyone who says they can take away their rubbish is registered to do so.
“There really is no excuse for fly-tipping – your waste is your responsibility, and there are several ways to get rid of waste responsibly in County Durham, such as taking it to one of our household waste recycling centres free or by booking a bulky waste collection.”