Trowbridge resident has been issued with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice (FPN) after fly-tipping household waste at a farmer’s gate entrance on Ashton Common, near Steeple Ashton.

Wiltshire Council Environmental Enforcement officers discovered the fly-tip while carrying out routine checks in the area. Multiple black sacks containing household waste had been dumped at the entrance to a field, blocking access and causing disruption to the landowner, as well as harm to the local environment.

Following an investigation, officers were able to trace the waste back to a Trowbridge resident, who admitted responsibility for dumping it. The person apologised and told officers they had “done a stupid thing”. Enquiries confirmed that no attempt had been made to use the household recycling centre (HRC), which was open on the day the waste was dumped.

The resident was issued with a £1,000 FPN, which has now been paid in full. As fixed penalty notices are not court convictions, the person cannot be named.

Wiltshire Council treats fly-tipping as a serious environmental crime and continues to take firm enforcement action against those found to be dumping waste illegally. Officers investigate all reports thoroughly, using a range of intelligence-gathering methods to identify those responsible and take appropriate action.

Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “Fly-tipping is completely unacceptable and has a real impact on our rural communities, landowners and the wider environment. In this case, the waste was dumped at a farmer’s gate entrance, causing disruption that was entirely avoidable.

“What makes this incident especially frustrating is that the household recycling centre was open on the day, meaning there was a simple and legal option available to dispose of the waste. Instead, an irresponsible decision was made, leaving others to deal with the consequences.

“Our officers will continue to investigate all reports of fly-tipping across the county and take robust action against offenders where the evidence allows. Paying the fine does not undo the damage caused, but it does send a clear message that illegal dumping will not be tolerated in Wiltshire.”

For more information on how Wiltshire Council tackles fly-tipping, or to report an incident, visit: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/fly-tipping.