THE first ever £1,000 fine for fly-tipping has been handed out in Barnsley as the council continue to crackdown on offenders.

Reports of fly-tipped waste on Ben Bank Road, Dodworth from a resident led to the council’s neighbourhood wardens being able to seize a Ford Transit Tipper Van in Sheffield and identify a suspect, who was interviewed under caution.

Following the interview, the suspect was issued with a £300 fine for not having the correct waste carrier’s licence and a further £1,000 for suspected tipping.

The offender’s vehicle was crushed on Monday after no legitimate keeper was found as part of our ongoing work to stop fly-tippers.

Coun Wendy Cain, cabinet spokesperson for public health and communities, said: “Environmental crime unfortunately remains a blight on our borough but as we have shown with this case, we will identify and punish offenders.

“Thanks to the support of our community, we have been able to issue the first £1,000 fine so quickly after the Litter and Environmental Crime Plan was implemented.

“We hope the increased fixed penalty notice and vehicle crushing sends a strong message that we do not tolerate fly-tipping in our borough both as a council and as a community.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in this case and those who work to keep Barnsley clean and green.”

Coun James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, added: “It is unacceptable that individuals take it upon themselves to blight our local areas with fly-tipping.

“Thanks to the introduction of our Environmental Crime and Litter Plan, we are able to take stronger action against environmental crime across Barnsley.

“The increase in the maximum penalty for fly-tipping and other environmental offences allows us to take stronger action against offenders.

“I encourage members of the public to report any instances of fly-tipping so we can continue to target and punish those who commit these crimes in our borough.”