A FLY-TIPPER has been fined more than 1,300 after dumping garden waste in Thame.

Litter pickers posted an appeal online to find the culprit of the dumped garden waste leading them to Henry Quilter-Wood, 31, of Main Road, in Princes Risborough, who pleaded guilty at Oxford Magistrates’ Court this month.

The court heard that in September last year, South Oxfordshire District Council had received a complaint from local litter picking group Thame Wombles about a fly-tip next to the A418 ring road, including a significant amount of soil and rubble. 

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The group had appealed for information about the fly-tip on their social media page and a local resident had come forward to say that she recognised the waste as coming from her property. 

The resident confirmed that she had employed Quilter-Wood to carry out renovation work in her garden, including removing any waste. 

At the time he ran a business called “Absolutely All Sorts” and held a licence allowing him to transport waste. 

Following the tip-off, the council’s Environment Officers interviewed Quilter-Wood.  He confirmed that he had carried out the work but throughout the course of the investigation he maintained that the two people who were working with him had told him they’d taken the waste to the local recycling centre as instructed. 

However, he did not have the required documents showing where the waste had gone and refused to give the names of the two individuals.  He therefore agreed to take responsibility for the fly-tipped waste.

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Quilter-Wood, who says he no longer operates the business, was fined £750 and ordered to pay the clear up costs of £336.14 and £300 towards prosecution costs, equalling a total of £1,386.14.

Councillor Sue Cooper, cabinet member for environment, climate change and nature recovery, said: “Acts of fly-tipping are a real blight on the landscape and it’s especially disappointing when someone who has the correct licence allows it to happen. 

“If you are transporting waste, you must have proper measures in place, including a record of where it’s been taken, otherwise you are breaking the law and risk facing a penalty if it’s found fly-tipped.

“This case is a great example of how residents sharing information about fly-tips can help us to identify those responsible. 

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“We would encourage everyone to keep an eye out and to let us know as soon as possible if you spot a fly-tip or suspect someone is involved in dumping waste.”

To report a fly-tip or someone who maybe responsible, please visit southoxon.gov.uk/flytipping or call 03000 610610.

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Read more from this author

This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Wallingford, Wantage and Didcot.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @Geeharland

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