Fines totalling nearly £3,500 have been given out to enviro crime offenders in Cumbria

At recent Carlisle Magistrates’ Court hearings, Carlisle City Council three successful prosecutions.

A man from Hayes who abandoned a vehicle on Kingstown Broadway in Carlisle has been found guilty and fined £660 with costs of £405 and a victim surcharge of £264. Total £1329.00

A woman from Carlisle who failed to attend a PACE interview into the investigation of fly-tipping on Aglionby Street has been found guilty and fined £660 with costs of £358.73 and a victim surcharge of £264. Total £1282.73

A man from Carlisle who failed to attend a PACE interview into the investigation of fly-tipping at Sainsbury’s pleaded guilty and was fined £370 with costs of £357.66 and a victim surcharge of £148. Total £875.66

In total, fines and included costs amounted to £3,487.39.

A Carlisle City Council spokesperson said: “Enviro crimes will be investigated and followed through.

“We encourage people who have been sent a letter or requested to attend an interview to engage with us.

“Residents are also reminded to ensure they pass their waste on to an authorised person/company, details can be checked easily by visiting the Environment Agency website to check the public register.

“If your waste is found fly-tipped you may end up responsible for it as you have a duty of care to ensure your waste is disposed of correctly.

“We would like to remind people that leaving items at bring sites will be investigated and dealt with as fly-tipping.

“If you use the sites and the bins/cages are full, come back another day or find an alternative site to dispose of your items.

“We have worked closely with local supermarkets to provide recycling facilities that are easily accessible, and we have carried out a focussed campaign over the last four years regarding fly-tipping at these sites.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank those people who use the recycling facilities correctly, by doing so these locations remain clean, tidy and presentable for people to use the site easily.

“Leaving items on the ground that are often recyclable encourages others to fly-tip, looks messy and uses resources that could be used elsewhere as often the bags and boxes that are left get wet, damaged and often rummaged through and are not suitable to be recycled.”