Warrington man fined (29/06/04)
Magistrates today fined a Warrington man £250 after he admitted illegally dumping waste on land at Orford Park, Warrington.
James Russell, of Elaine Street, Padgate, Warrington, was also ordered to pay £250 costs to the Environment Agency, which brought the prosecution.
Estelle Palin, prosecuting on behalf of the Environment Agency, told Warrington Magistrates’ Court that on 14 November 2003 a local park ranger saw a man walking away from dumped waste – a bed, a mattress and carpet – at a car park in Orford Park.
The area had been clear of waste just moments earlier, and no other person or vehicle had entered the car park except for the man seen by the ranger. The ranger took a record of the registration of the vehicle the man drove off in, and reported the incident to Warrington Borough Council. The council then notified the Environment Agency.
On 18 November 2003 an agency officer visited the site and photographed the waste. A DVLA search confirmed the owner of the vehicle, and he was served with a notice, requiring him to provide details of who was using the car on the date in question.
The vehicle’s owner confirmed that James Russell had used the car that day, and Mr Russell was invited for interview – but he failed to reply.
The court heard a further letter was sent to Mr Russell on 16 December inviting him for interview, but he failed to attend on the specified date. After further attempts he was traced to his home address and did attend an interview on 14 January 2004, where he admitted he was the only driver of the vehicle on the day in question.
During the hearing magistrates heard that Mr Russell was driving the vehicle when an unnamed associate of his dumped the controlled waste in an area that was not licensed. He also showed a lack of co-operation throughout the investigation.