Newsagent pays for fly-tipping

DUMPED . . . the waste in Bobbin Walk, Glodwick

A NEWSAGENT who dumped bags of trade waste on a grass verge has been ordered to pay more than £700.

Oldham Council successfully prosecuted Mohammed Javid (52), of Bobbin Walk, Glodwick, following the fly-tipping incident on February 9.

The court action comes after the Chronicle revealed this week how in one year, Oldham taxpayers spent £400,000 cleaning-up after tippers but got nothing back from fines.

Research by the Countryside Alliance showed there were 1,243 cases in Oldham in 2010/11 costing £71,778 to clear up, with 4,240 cases of enforcement action at a cost of £134,544. It resulted in 11 successful prosecutions with 10 fines issued but, according to the statistics, no money received in fines.

Oldham Council’s figures, which include incidents of littering, recorded 2,755 incidents of waste being illegally dumped at a cost of £400,000.

An Oldham Council spokesman said it recorded a zero figure because the fines go to the court. The authority does receive costs but the figures were not available.

Javid was fined £120 with £627 costs and a £15 victim surcharge after admitting the offence at Oldham Magistrates’ Court.

He was caught after an Environmental Health enforcement officer traced the waste to the owner of Smith’s News in Newton Heath.

Councillor Jean Stretton said: “Fly-tipping is a blight on the borough and businesses must dispose of their waste in the proper manner.

“Over the coming months our enforcement officers are going to be carrying out proactive checks on businesses to ensure they are meeting the requirements.”

For advice on arranging a commercial waste contract with the council, call 0161- 770 6644.