Operation Trident issues fines as council continues fight against fly tipping

Operation Trident, Rossendale Council’s fight against the growth of fly tipping across the borough, has issued five fixed penalty notices since the beginning of 2022. 

The operation coordinates a three pronged approach of Education, Enforcement and Removal and aims to hold to account those responsible for fly tipping, abandoning vehicles and allowing dog fouling across the borough.  

Since its launch in 2021 Operation Trident has had eight successful prosecutions, with a further 17 pending and issued dozens of fixed penalty notices. 

Cllr Steve Hughes Cabinet member for Communities said: “Operation Trident has allowed us to step up enforcement to tackle incidents quickly and effectively. 

“The help provided by the public in reporting incidents is crucial and we urge residents to ‘See it, Report it.’ All the fixed penalty notices issued so far this year have all relied on help from the public.”  

Fly tipping is a criminal offence, and a conviction carries an unlimited fine and/or 12 months’ imprisonment or five years’ imprisonment if convicted at Crown Court.  

Cllr Hughes continued: “We won’t hesitate to issue fixed penalties or prosecute where necessary, when we find evidence of illegal dumping and urge people to ensure that they are correctly and legally disposing of their rubbish.  

“The vast majority of people dispose of their rubbish lawfully but it’s the small minority that spoil it for the rest of us.  

“It costs the council around £40,000 a year to clear the mess left behind by others which ultimately we’re all paying for in our council tax. We are asking people to not let them get away with this and to report it whenever and wherever they see it. 

“We want to deter people from dumping their rubbish illegally and hope that swift action will make them think twice. 

“Rossendale Council takes issues like this that blight our communities very seriously and we’re committed to delivering a cleaner and greener borough.” 

People can report incidents on the council’s website here https://bit.ly/flytippingRBC, email envcrime@rossendalebc.gov.uk or call 01706217777 

 List of offences and dates of fixed penalty notices: 

1. The council removed a mattress and cardboard from Venture Street, Bacup after it was reported on 3rd November 2021. Following information from the public a local resident was identified and interviewed by enforcement officers.  On 14th January 2022 they were issued with a FPN which has subsequently been paid. 

 

2. On 16th December 2021 the council removed a large amount of household waste that was dumped in a back alley between New Street and Warner Street, Haslingden after information from a local resident. Enforcement officers located a witness who was able to assist in identifying the offender who was dumping waste on a regular basis. A resident of Warner Street was interviewed under caution and issued with a fixed penalty notice on 5th January 2022 which has been paid.

 

3. On 13th January 2022 a member of the public reported seeing a TV stand and other household items being dumped from a vehicle in Back Bury Road, Haslingden. Enforcement officers spoke with the registered keeper of the offending vehicle and a resident of Beaconsfield Street, Haslingden was issued with a fixed penalty notice on 2nd February which has now been paid.

  

4. On 18th December 2021 a member of the public reported to the council that they had witnessed soil being dumped in Back Beech Street, Rawtenstall.  With the information from the witness, enforcement officers were able to trace a suspect, who subsequently admitted the offence. A resident of Whittle Street was issued with a fixed penalty notice on 3rd February 2022. The penalty notice has now been paid. (As the waste was soil it was not removed).

 

5. On 14th January 2022 a member of the public reported a large amount of household waste being dumped in Back Bury Road, Haslingden. The council removed the waste and began an investigation. An offender was identified and subsequently spoken to by the council’s enforcement officers. On 7th February 2022 a resident of Bury Road was issued with a fixed penalty notice.