Fly tippers fined for dumping rubbish in New Forest

Hundreds of kilos of waste including car parts, fence panels, a freezer and general rubbish were found dumped on Forestry Commission land in January.

The rise has been blamed on the introduction of charges to dispose of some items at household recycling centres in the area.

New Forest District Council has handed out fixed penalties to two businesses - one based in the New Forest and the other in Bournemouth - and to one individual connected to the Bournemouth business.

More than 400kg of waste dumped in Ashurst was traced to the New Forest business.

The business owner could not provide details of the person who had taken the waste and did not have a waste transfer note or duty of care, documents businesses are legally required to have to show they are disposing of their waste responsibly.

In another incident, waste weighing more than 200kg was dumped near Vereley Car Park in Burley. Waste included a freezer and other kitchen equipment.

The fly-tipping was traced back to a Bournemouth business, who again could not produce evidence to show they had arranged for the proper disposal of their waste.The person who had taken the waste was fined for fly-tipping the rubbish.

The business owners were fined £300 each and the individual £400.

Cllr Barry Rickman, Leader of New Forest District Council, said: “Fly-tipping is unacceptable and puts our residents, wildlife and environment at risk.

“We will work with our partners to act swiftly and fine those responsible whenever possible. On this occasion, those responsible included the businesses who failed to make sure they were giving their waste to someone who would dispose of it properly.

“I urge all businesses and householders to check that the company or individual who is offering to take their waste has a waste carriers' licence.”

Bruce Rothnie, Deputy Surveyor for the Forest Commission, said the organisation spent more than £70,000 last year on litter removal.