A director of a removal company has been prosecuted following a fly-tip investigation into a large quantity of dumped rubbish in a country lane in Biggin Hill.
Mr Peter Tatham, a director of Imagination Movers Ltd, pleaded guilty to failing to exercise a duty of care in relation to the fly-tipped waste in Oaklands Lane, Biggin Hill, contrary to the Environment Protection Act 1990. He was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £930.
Councillor Page, Executive Councillor for Public Protection and Enforcement said, “We are tackling the menace and danger of fly-tipping and where evidence exists, we will prosecute, including for offences which are designed to ensure that waste is disposed of properly according to the regulations. Businesses have very clear duties of care, which were not followed in this example. We also strongly encourage anyone disposing of waste to make proper checks of the individual or company they are hiring, which is easily done by visiting the Environment Agency website.”
The latest prosecution to help protect country lanes from fly-tipping underlines the legal requirement for businesses and individuals to follow their legal duty of care for any waste they are responsible for. Residents are also being reminded to make checks about the company or individuals being paid to remove unwanted goods or waste from their homes and could face prosecution if the necessary checks are not made and an unlicensed waste carrier is used.
A large fly-tip was discovered in Oaklands Lane, a country lane, in Biggin Hill in May 2024. Evidence recovered in the investigation showed that a resident in Croydon had paid Mr Tatham £50 to dispose of unwanted household waste which had belonged to their now deceased mother.
Although Mr Tatham did initially attend an interview, he failed to respond to requests for details of what waste had been collected from the resident and nor did he share waste transfer notes as requested.
Bromley Council continues to tackle fly-tipping, with residents encouraged to report fly-tipping via the council website and fly-tip incidents routinely investigated with a view to prosecute those responsible.
Visit the council’s website www.bromley.gov.uk/WasteCarriers for information about being responsible with waste disposal and making the necessary checks with the Environment Agency website about licensed waste carriers.
Visit www.bromley.gov.uk/Prosecutions for information about the most recent prosecutions and enforcement work undertaken.
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Editor’s notes: Mr Tatham was prosecuted on 23 September and pled guilty to two charges under S.34(6) EPA 1990. He was fined £330 plus £132 surcharge and was ordered to pay £468 in costs, totalling £930.
For media enquiries, please contact David Aderogba, Public Affairs Officer, on 020 8466 3060 or email david.aderogba@bromley.gov.uk.