A FLY-TIPPER who dumped waste just a stone’s throw from her own home has been given a bill of almost £1,600 following a Barnsley Council-led investigation.
Margo Hole, of Abbots Road, Lundwood, was identified as being responsible for the tipping, which was left on the Trans Pennine Trail last February.
After failing to engage with investigating officers at any point during the investigation and not attending earlier hearings at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court, a warrant was issued for her arrest.
However, the 36-year-old attended court from custody and pleaded guilty to fly-tipping last week.
She was fined £613, told to pay a £245 surcharge and court costs of £730, totalling £1,588.
Coun Wendy Cain, cabinet spokesperson for public health and communities, said: “Fly-tipping continues to be a blight on our borough but this latest prosecution and the significant fine imposed on the person responsible shows that we will not tolerate it within our communities.
“With the help and support of the wider public, we will identify and prosecute any offenders such as this one.
“I’d like to thank our wardens, the Safer Communities team and our litigation team for their help and hard work in this prosecution.”
Councillors met at Barnsley Town Hall on Tuesday to discuss the council’s response to tackling fly-tipping, after it was revealed more than 1,200 fines were handed out to litter louts in a year.
Ten have been convicted in court, while seven more are awaiting a date to be set now that four-figure fines - brought in last year as a bigger deterrent - are available.
A council report added: “Environmental crime is identified, year after year, as a priority for the people of Barnsley in the annual community safety survey.
“The council is currently considering how communities can be even more engaged and invested in where they live.
“The aim will be to further build confidence in the council, develop an increased sense of pride in residents in their local area and responding to issues which matter the most to communities.
“Of note will be consideration of how the council might be better resource environmental ‘hotspot’ approaches, allowing services to take a targeted and proactive approach to improving the environment in locations where decline is felt the most.
“Environmental blight and crime remain a major demand pressure for the council and continue to be a priority concern for many of our residents.
“Through a combination of measures, interventions and public support and involvement, it is hoped that environmental decline can be reversed in some locations and that communities will see and feel the benefit of more pleasant environments.
“Residents are the eyes and ears of our communities and can help us identify the problems and improve the situation.”
