On Saturday 5 September 2009 a co-owner of a company providing environmental services to United Utilities Water Plc, noticed a white van pull out from where it was parked at the side of Sheep House Lane in Rivington, land owned by United Utilities Water Plc. The co-owner noticed a settee where the van had been parked. He followed the van and noted its registration number. He returned to the location where the van had been parked and noticed a wardrobe, armchair and cushions in addition to the settee he had seen earlier. The items had not been there when he passed the same location earlier that morning. He reported what he had witnessed including the vehicle details to United Utilities. The co-owner’s company, Countryside Contracts Limited, removed the fly-tip on 9 September to the cost of £72.50.
Chorley Borough Council, visited the site and photographed the sofa and wardrobe. He established via DVLA that the owner of the van was Drive UK Limited in Rochdale. The firm replied that the defendant had hired the vehicle on 5 September which was the day of the fly-tip. Chorley BC obtained the defendants address from the firm and invited him to attend an interview under caution.
The defendant attended an interview under caution at council offices on 20 October 2009. He admitted that he had hired the Renault van observed by the co-owner on 5 September. He admitted that he had deposited the sofa, armchair cushions and wardrobe at the side of Sheep House Lane. He said that he thought it would be expensive to take the items to a recycling centre and was experiencing financial hardship. He said he could not afford to pay anyone to remove the items. He said that he was aware that fly-tipping is an offence.
The defendant was fined £220, full costs applied for of £737.50 were awarded and he also had to pay a £15 victim surcharge.
Rick Mills the Environmental Compliance Manager for United Utilities Water Plc and Water UK representative on the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group, said "This is a real success for United Utilities and the wider environment. We have been involved with the Landowners Partnership Project since its launch in April 2009 and the successful prosecution comes from excellent collaborative working between the Chorley Borough Council, our employees and contractors in the area. It is encouraging to see the Local Authority taking a fly-tipping prosecution on private land, something which we see as best practice".