Residents fined for waste in back yards

Two residents who failed to clear waste from their back yards which could attract rats and mice have been prosecuted by Rossendale Council.

Peter Hepworth was fined £660 after an environmental enforcement officer found piles of foul-smelling black bags behind his house in Manchester Road, Haslingden, on February 7 this year.

The 26-year-old was issued with a notice under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act ordering him to remove the rubbish. When he failed to do so, the council had to step in and clean up.

Hepworth was found guilty in his absence at Burnley Magistrates’ Court of failing to comply with the notice. He was also ordered to pay £286 costs and a £184 victim surcharge.

Lindsay Jones (39), of Rochdale Road, Ramsbottom, pleaded guilty by letter of failing to comply with a notice issued on February 7 to remove a sofa, a mattress, a bed base and other rubbish from her back yard.

She had previously ignored a verbal warning from an environmental enforcement officer about the waste which could harbour pests. Again, the council had to carry out the work when she failed to act.

Jones was fined £120 with £100 costs and a £184 victim surcharge.

Councillor Jackie Oakes, Rossendale Council’s Portfolio Holder for Operations, said:

This type of behaviour is not acceptable. Rubbish like this can attract and harbour pests and make life a misery for neighbours.

Cleaning up after people like this is also a drain on our resources and we would much rather spend council taxpayers’ money on other things.

I am pleased at the level of these fines which I hope will serve as a deterrent to others. We will also continue to take legal action where appropriate if people refuse to comply with warnings to clean up their act.

These prosecutions followed complaints and I would like to thank the council officers who worked hard to bring the offenders to court.

People can report waste on public or private land online or by phoning 01706 217777 option 3.