FISH BAIT FLY-TIPPER PROSECUTED

A Margate man who fly-tipped potentially hazardous fish bait by-products has been fined £3,000 after being successfully prosecuted by Thanet District Council.
Reginald Gary Wilson (27) of All Saints Avenue, Margate appeared at Canterbury Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 28 August and pleaded guilty to disposing of controlled waste. The offence was contrary to Section 33 (1) (a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Wilson was fined £3,000 with £100 costs, plus £225 clean-up costs and £15 victim surcharge, totalling £3,340.
Magistrates heard that on 4 November last year, council Street Scene officers were alerted to a fly-tip incident at Marsh Farm Road, Minster – a local beauty spot.
The waste was discovered to be the by-product used in the production of fish bait, and included an estimated 100 plastic pots of rotting eggs and three vegetable oil barrels. These were all poured into the watercourse that runs alongside Marsh Farm Road across an area exceeding six metres in length.
Marsh Farm Road had to be closed while the waste was assessed, and the subsequent clean-up required work by the council, Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue and the Environment Agency.
Following detailed council-led investigations, Mr Wilson was interviewed under caution by council Street Scene officers. It was discovered that he had collected waste in a van from a local bait-producing company, even though he was not licensed to do so. CCTV evidence was used in compiling the evidence for the prosecution.

Leader of the Council, and Cabinet Member for Corporate and Regulatory Services, Cllr Clive Hart, said: “The council has a zero tolerance attitude towards fly-tipping, and will not hesitate to prosecute offenders. Such activity is simply inexcusable.

“The waste left at Marsh Farm Road spoiled a picturesque part of Thanet, but we will vigorously pursue any incidents whenever and wherever they take place. I hope that the fine imposed by magistrates in this latest court case will act as a suitable deterrent to those tempted to ruin our area through fly-tipping.”