Rubbish Photo: Folkestone and Hythe District Council…
Two women living in the same road in Folkestone have been fined more than £2,000 between them for leaving rubbish in their gardens.
Rotting food
Folkestone Magistrates’ Court heard last week (Monday 5 December) that rotting food, broken glass, a broken TV, a mattress, black sacks and other household waste built up over a period of time at the properties in Dallas Brett Crescent.
Following complaints from neighbours – and despite informal attempts by Folkestone & Hythe District Council in February and March to resolve the issues – the householders allowed the waste to accumulate, resulting in referrals to the council’s environmental protection team.
Community Protection Notices (CPN) were served on 29 April, requiring both Natasha Graham and Trudi McIntyre - who lived just a few doors from each other – to remove and dispose of the mess within 21 days. Neither did so and in June, it was cleared by the council.
Neither woman attended the hearing on Monday and the cases were proved in their absence.
For failing to comply with the CPN, Miss Graham was ordered to pay a total of £964 (including clean-up costs of £300). Miss McIntyre was ordered to pay a total of £1,515 (including clean-up costs of £675).
Cllr Stuart Peall, Cabinet Member for Enforcement, Regulatory Services, Waste and Building Control, said: “Our officers gave these two residents every opportunity to clear the waste, which was unsightly, unhygienic and unfair – especially to neighbours.
“When the women failed to comply with the subsequent notices court proceedings were the only option and we would like to warn other people that this will always be the case.”
Folkestone and Hythe District Council Leader Cllr David Monk added: “Bulky waste can easily be disposed of using our collection service, or by visiting one of Kent County Council’s household waste recycling centres.”
To find out more about environmental protection:-
Visit: https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/environmental-protection