Trowbridge resident fined for fly-tipping near Steeple Ashton
Waste disposal incident leads to £1,000 penalty
A Trowbridge resident has been fined £1,000 for fly-tipping household waste at a farmer's gate entrance on Ashton Common, close to Steeple Ashton.
Wiltshire Council Environmental Enforcement officers found multiple black sacks filled with household waste blocking the entrance to a field during their routine checks.
This disruption impacted the landowner and caused harm to the environment.
After an investigation, officers traced the waste back to the responsible resident who admitted their actions, expressing regret and acknowledging they had "done a stupid thing."
The investigation revealed no attempt to use a nearby, open household recycling centre.
The fixed penalty notice was issued and paid in full, but due to the nature of these notices, the individual's name cannot be disclosed.
Wiltshire Council prioritises tackling fly-tipping and continues active enforcement against illegal waste dumping.
Officers employ various intelligence-gathering methods to thoroughly investigate reports and hold offenders accountable.
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, emphasised the negative impact of fly-tipping, stating: “Fly-tipping is completely unacceptable and has a real impact on our rural communities, landowners and the wider environment. In this case, the waste was dumped at a farmer’s gate entrance, causing disruption that was entirely avoidable.
"What makes this incident especially frustrating is that the household recycling centre was open on the day, meaning there was a simple and legal option available to dispose of the waste. Instead, an irresponsible decision was made, leaving others to deal with the consequences."
He added, “Our officers will continue to investigate all reports of fly-tipping across the county and take robust action against offenders where the evidence allows. Paying the fine does not undo the damage caused, but it does send a clear message that illegal dumping will not be tolerated in Wiltshire.”