Company to pay over £12,000 for allowing site to become a hazard

The owners of a Bristol derelict site, which became a fly tipping hot spot after they left it insecure, have been ordered to pay over £12,000 by Bristol Magistrates.

The Company in Brislington was found guilty by Bristol Magistrates on 15 August for allowing the derelict site of a former pub in Withywood to remain insecure for months, even after a notice had been served by Bristol City Council. 

The site was used as a dumping ground for over twenty tons of fly tipped rubbish attracting rats and other vermin.

The Company had already ignored a Section 215 notice served under the Town and Country Planning Act served earlier this year which required they take action to make the site secure.

“This site attracted fly tippers in their droves and caused misery to local residents.  We gave them every warning that they must secure the site, which they ignored, ” said Carol Donovan, Streetscene Enforcement Officer, who worked  jointly with planning enforcement staff, to bring the case to a successful conclusion.

They were fined in their absence £1,000 and then £10,400 (£100 x 104 days for continually breeching the Section 215 notice £10,400).  In addition they were ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 costs of £1,089.01.

“We are pleased that the Courts have taken this case very seriously. This is a terrible case where an area has been blighted by an irresponsible company has which has left  a site insecure.  In turn selfish people have used it as dumping ground for waste they could easily have disposed of properly,” said Cllr Guy Poultney, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods.