Man fined in court over Hinckley health risk waste

Matthew Farrell of Trinity Lane, Hinckley, whose private land contained dumped waste which had spilled onto a public pavement and was not cleared was convicted in his absence.

The Borough Council had tried contacting Mr. Farrell since the end of May 2024, but he had not responded to any communication. Council officers had cleared the pavement on one occasion, but the waste had continued to over spill onto it again.

Mr. Farrell was served a Community Protection Notice (CPN) by the Borough Council. Earlier this month at Leicester Magistrates Court, he was found guilty of breaching the CPN in September 2024.

The magistrates took a dim view of the offence. They were particularly concerned about the waste spilling out over the pavement, concluding that it caused potential health risks to the public.

Mr. Farrell, who did not attend the court hearing, was fined £660 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £262. A collection order was also made.

Cllr Lynda Hodgkins, Executive Member for Parks, Open Spaces and Neighbourhood Services, said: "Community Protection Notices are vital to improving quality of life for members of the community and I hope that this case shows that we simply will not allow residents to ignore rules and continue to adversely impact the lives of other people.

“Cases like this can be so easily avoided. There are many reputable waste carriers out there, and the council offers a whole range of different waste collection services."