A RESIDENT from Cricklade has been fined over £3,000 for dumping garden waste at the entrance to a field.

Wiltshire Council prosecuted the man after he was photographed by a farmer whilst depositing a tipper load of waste at the site in August 2023.

Mr Frank Smith, trading as Oaksview Tree & Garden Services of Calcutt Park, pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates Court on Friday 10 May.

According to the council, Mr Smith failed to comply with a notice requiring him to provide two years of waste transfer notes for his gardening business, and he failed to comply with a formal notice requiring him to identity the vehicle’s driver.

He was issued with £3,180 in fines and costs, and he was ordered to pay the council compensation of £112.08 to cover the clean-up bill.

Cllr Nick Holder, cabinet member for highways, street scene, and flooding, said: “As this case shows, we will take action to prosecute environmental criminals in our beautiful county.

“Anyone who spots fly-tipping in Wiltshire should report it to us using MyWilts and we will investigate and take action.”

In April 2024, Wiltshire Council announced it was raising fixed penalty notices to £1,000 for fly-tipping.

It also reports having invested an extra £150,000 a year into tackling fly-tipping, including employing more enforcement staff and using covert cameras.