'We must teach fly-tippers a lesson' Medway Council crackdown on illegal waste dumping
Last month, three people who had dumped rubbish in Medway were prosecuted, receiving fines that came to nearly £5,000
A councillor from Kent has told us fly-tippers must be taught a lesson -promising to crack down on the act.
Last month, three people who had dumped rubbish in Medway were prosecuted - receiving fines that came to nearly £5,000.
Councillor Alex Paterson is the portfolio holder for Highways, Community Safety and Enforcement at Medway Council, he said: "There are people in life who will go home with pockets full of rubbish, and there are clearly people who haven't been brought up that way.
"If they haven't learned that lesson by the time they are adults then we will need to teach it to them because it's so unsightly, and it's just a crime against all of us, a crime against the community.
"However, is also damages the environment, it harms animals and wildlife and it's just unacceptable.
"It must stop, and I'm committed to using all the tools at our disposal to catch fly tippers, we are coming from them."
Business waste dumped
On 24 September 2023, CCTV cameras at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre spotted a van with signage for RLM Roofing and Guttering dumping waste onto a grass verge near one of the car parks.
Following an investigation, a Fixed Penalty Notice was issued to the registered keeper of the vehicle, Tommylee Mead, of Matts Hill Road, Sittingbourne, under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The Fixed Penalty Notice remained unpaid, and on 28 May 2025 the case was heard at Medway Magistrates’ Court.
Mead pleaded guilty, and magistrates ordered them to pay a total £3,474.52.
Household waste left on public land
On Saturday, 4 May 2024, one of the council’s Street Scene Officers was working on Reform Road, Chatham.
Whilst there, they discovered seven black sacks and several household items left on a public footpath near an alleyway behind properties on Castle Road, Chatham.
Upon inspecting the waste, items were found linking the bags to a property on Castle Road, Chatham, and a letter was sent to the occupant, Mihai Mutu, on 24 May 2024 requesting an explanation.
No response was received, and a Fixed Penalty Notice was issued under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, for failure to comply with the householder’s duty of care.
The Fixed Penalty Notice was not paid, and the case was heard at Medway Magistrates' Court on 20 May 2025.
Mutu pleaded guilty and magistrates order them to pay a total of £586.
Rubbish thrown from car
On 14 May 2024, the council received a report of littering on Watling Street, Strood. A witness spotted Luke Mannerings, of Edwards Close, Snodland, throw a plastic bottle out of their car and on to the road.
A Fixed Penalty Notice was issued under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 but went unpaid, and the case was heard at Medway Magistrates’ Court on 20 May 2025.
The case was proved in absence, with magistrates ordering them to pay a total of £393, and commending the witness who brought the evidence to the attention of Medway Council.