Disappointment over fine handed to fly-tipper caught dumping piles of waste on rural road

A council has expressed its disappointment over a fine imposed on a man who was caught dumping waste on a rural road.

Gavin Wright pleaded guilty to fly-tipping a large amount of household waste in Croston Close Road, in Edenfield, near Bury. Mr Wright, of Bridge Street, Rochdale, was ordered to pay a £120 fine, £200 in costs, £115 in compensation, and a £34 victim surcharge following an appearance at Burnley Magistrates Court.

However, Rossendale Borough Council has now slammed the penalty, which it says 'fails to reflect the seriousness of the offence and its impact on the community and environment'. A council investigation linked Mr Wright to the fly-tipping of the waste, which was traced back to an address in Rawtenstall, Lancs Live reports.

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He had been hired by the family of a deceased occupier from Hammer Avenue to dispose of the waste. Mr Wright, who operates an unlicensed waste removal company and advertises his services on social media, charged the family £450 for the task.

He abandoned the waste on an unmade road, posing a threat to the environment and the residents living nearby. Rossendale Borough Council’s Public Protection Unit carried out an extensive investigation into the fly-tipping incident and eventually traced Mr Wright.

The council said the fine handed out by the court 'does not serve as a sufficient deterrent for such environmental crimes' but vowed to continue to take action against fly-tippers.

Coun Liz McInnes said: “It is disheartening to see such a small penalty for a serious offence like this, especially when it poses significant harm to our environment and communities.

“The consequences of illegal waste