A garage boss has been ordered to pay nearly £1,000 in fines and costs for fly-tipping – even though he did not dump the rubbish himself. Derek Gannon says he paid for the waste to be taken away.
But he says the council did not make it clear it was down to him to check what happened to it. The 50-year-old from Stourbridge, who runs DG Motors in Dawley Brook Road, Kingswinford, pleaded guilty to fly-tipping at Dudley Magistrates Court yesterday.
He was brought before the courts after rubbish including car parts, cardboard and plastic found dumped at the side of the road in Gibbons Lane, Pensnett, last October, was traced back to his business.
Mr Tim Holder, prosecuting, for Dudley Council, said: “He made arrangements with a man for the rubbish to be collected and paid him £30 but it was his responsibility to ensure it was disposed of properly.
“He was unable to provide any official documentation and should have taken more care to check this person’s credentials.”
Gannon, who was unrepresented, described his appearance in court and subsequent fine as “unfair”.
He said: “I feel it is important the council make people aware of their responsibilities which they have failed to do.
“I didn’t dump the rubbish, yet I’m being made to take all the blame for it and I’m pretty stunned that the person who actually flytipped it hasn’t been brought before the courts.” Gannon was fined £400 and ordered to pay £536.50 costs.
In a separate case, a Quarry Bank woman was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £365 in fines and costs after paying someone £30 to dispose of household rubbish later found dumped in Delph Lane, Brierley Hill, last August. Anne Bennett, 37, of Bower Lane, pleaded guilty to fly-tipping.
Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environment and culture, said the council did make people aware of their responsibilities, and people must learn the procedures.
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