A Havant man has been ordered to pay more than £2,000 in fines and costs after admitting to fly-tipping suspected asbestos-type material in the South Downs.
Owen Fletcher, of Tarrant Gardens, pleaded guilty to his part in dumping hazardous waste in a picturesque lane near Chalton.
Fletcher was given a fine of £293 plus ordered to pay £117 victims surcharge and full compensation costs for clearing the hazardous waste of £1,850. He was also disqualified from being a company director for three years.
Basingstoke Magistrates Court heard that a witness saw two men get out of a vehicle belonging to Fletcher, leave two large builders’ bags of asbestos-type material blocking the byway and then drive off.
Fletcher pleaded guilty under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to being in control of a vehicle that was used in a fly-tipping offence. The offence took place on 7 June 2021.
Cllr Tony Costigan, EHDC Portfolio Holder for Property, said: “Fly-tipping is a serious issue – it damages the environment, it’s harmful to wildlife, it’s expensive to clear and it looks awful.
“Our District Team will investigate fly-tips and prosecute those responsible where they can.
“Residents must also remember that everyone has a legal duty to make sure their waste is disposed of properly, even if it is fly-tipped by someone else. If it's your waste, it's your responsibility.”