Company faces fine over waste breach that obstructed pavement outside pub

It involved an accumulation of waste obstructing the pavement near to the pub on Rugeley Road.

After an investigation by Lichfield District Council, the owners of The Swan Inn appeared at Cannock Magistrates Court on November 6.

Swan Armitage Limited pleaded guilty to the offence under s.34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The owner of The Swan Inn in Armitage has pleaded guilty to a waste offence following an investigation by Lichfield District Council.

The court heard in July 2022 the council received a complaint about an accumulation of waste obstructing the pavement near to the pub on Rugeley Road.

After tracing the waste back to the pub, environmental health officers required the company to produce waste transfer notes to demonstrate that they were disposing of their waste responsibly.

The company failed to produce the documents and were then issued a £300 fixed penalty. The fixed penalty was not paid, and the company were then summoned to appear in court.

Under the regulations, all businesses must make their own arrangements for the disposal of their waste and obtain a transfer note when they give waste to someone else. Waste transfer notes need to be kept for two years.

Councillor Alex Farrell, cabinet member for housing and local plan, said: “This system has been in place in England for decades. By being able to produce waste transfer notes when demanded, businesses can demonstrate that they are disposing of their waste responsibly and that it is not being fly-tipped or disposed of in a way that harms the environment or local communities.”

The company will be sentenced at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on December 5 and face an unlimited fine

The court heard that in July 2022 Lichfield District Council received a complaint about an accumulation of waste obstructing the pavement near to the pub on Rugeley Road. After tracing the waste back to the pub, environmental health officers required the company to produce waste transfer notes to demonstrate that they were disposing of their waste responsibly.

The company failed to produce the documents and were then issued a £300 fixed penalty. The fixed penalty was not paid, and the company were then summoned to appear in court.

All businesses must make their own arrangements for the disposal of their waste and obtain a transfer note when they give waste to someone else. Waste transfer notes need to be kept for two years.

Councillor Alex Farrell, Cabinet Member for Housing and Local Plan, said: “This system has been in place in England for decades. By being able to produce waste transfer notes when demanded, businesses can demonstrate that they are disposing of their waste responsibly and that it is not being fly-tipped or disposed of in a way that harms the environment or local communities.”

The company will be sentenced at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on 5 December 2023 and face an unlimited fin