FOUR people have been prosecuted for fly tipping in the Maldon district.

The individuals were taken to court by Maldon District Council and fined for littering and fly tipping.

Rocky Ali, of Walton Court, Woking, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on November 9.

He admitted dropping a cigarette in High Street, Maldon, on March 3, was fined £80 and ordered to pay £150 costs.

Appearing at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on the same day, Clive Lyle, of Newmoor Close, Southminster, admitted dropping a cigarette in Mundon Road, Maldon, on April 9.

He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay £150 costs.

Louise Buckley, 31, of Chester Road, Maldon, admitted a breach of household waste duty of care, allowing her waste to be fly tipped by a third party in Colchester.

She appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on November 16, and was fined £80 and ordered to pay £150 costs.

On the same day, Andrew Smith, of Top Road, Tolleshunt Knights, was found guilty of littering in Maldon Road, Tolleshunt D’Arcy, at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court and was fined £220 and ordered to pay £150 costs.

The prosecutions are part of a crackdown on fly tipping and littering by the council’s Community Protection Team (CPT) which has served 52 fixed penalty notices for the offences since April.

Pat Mackshea, a community protection officer, said: “The CPT is tackling the issue of fly tipping. But we need your help to ensure that your waste is disposed correctly. Please ask your contractor if they are a registered waste carrier and ask for a waste carrier number.

“By removing any fly tipping as soon as possible we will not only be improving our environment, but we will be improving the quality of life for many residents.

“Once reported, the waste can be removed and an investigation can take place.

“Successful prosecutions rely heavily upon people coming forward with evidence and intelligence.”

If you use a trader to remove your waste ask to see their waste carrier registration number. It is illegal for them to take your waste if they don’t have a permit and you could face a fine up to £5,000.

To report an incident of fly tipping or littering, contact 01621 854477.