A Chatham man must part with almost £1,900 after he ignored council correspondence relating to flytipping containing suspected marijuana.
Steven Duggan of McKenzie Road failed to comply with a notice from Medway Council asking who had flytipped rubbish in Stoney Lane, Rochester, in which his details were found.
Insulation material, cardboard and full black bin liners were among the items dumped, as well as plant by-products believed to be marijuana. The matter was reported to Medway Council on 25 September last year. Despite numerous attempts to reach Duggan, including enforcement officers visiting his home and letters inviting him to recorded interviews, no response was received.
A notice pursuant to section 108 of the Environment Act 1995 was issued and delivered to his address on 3 December with a questionnaire to be returned to Medway Council within 10 days, but again this was ignored. The case was heard in his absence at Medway Magistrates’ Court on 2 April. For failing to comply with a notice he was fined £1,500 and must pay costs of £279.75 as well as a victim surcharge of £120. A council tax check confirmed that Duggan had lived at the address found on paperwork within the rubbish pile for the past 16 months. Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact, Cllr Mike O’Brien, said: “ We have a zero tolerance policy particularly against flytipping, it is unacceptable and anyone caught will be prosecuted.
“In this case we do not know who carried out the flytipping but Mr Duggan should have cooperated with the council to help catch the culprit.”
