Residents fined for failing to clean up rubbish

Two former Ashfield District Council tenants have been fined after ignoring a Fixed Penalty Notice issued for rubbish dumped on their property.

Gregory and Julie Welsh, formally of Roosevelt Road, Sutton in Ashfield, were issued with a warning following complaints from neighbours regarding the amount of rubbish, including a bed and fridge, dumped in their garden. After being issued with and ignoring a Community Protection Notice, the couple were issued a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) by the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour team.

Having failed to pay the FPN the couple moved to Mansfield, where through the hard work of our Anti-Social Behaviour Officers they were tracked down and reissued with their Fixed Penalty Notice. Failing to pay the fine they were summoned to South Derbyshire Magistrates Court in June this year. Gregory Welsh was fined £220.00, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £32.00 and costs of £276.95, Julie Welsh was also fined £220.00, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £32.00 and costs of £276.95.

Cllr Helen-Ann Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety said:

“The couple were originally issued a warning which had they chosen not to ignore, would have resulted in them clearing the rubbish without any further action being taken. Instead they chose ignore this and all the Notices issued to them, resulting in large fine being issued in Court.

“Ashfield District Council takes matters like this seriously, and through the hard work of our Anti-Social Behaviour officers, this couple were tracked down resulting with them appearing in court. This should act as a warning to those that think anti-social behaviour is acceptable.”