A COUNCIL has warned residents of the repercussions of fly-tipping, describing it as a “blight on the local community”.

It comes after three cases were prosecuted including a landlord who fly-tipped two mattresses and has been fined nearly £2,000, when he could have been collected for just £12.50.

Hon Shu Pang, the landlord of a Southchurch Road property was witnessed fly-tipping a mattress in October last year and then caught on CCTV the next month doing the same thing.

He was fined £1,833.20 - made up of a £1300 fine, Costs of £468.20, and a £65 victim surcharge - at Southend Magistrates Court on Wednesday February 8.

Tony Cox, councillor for waste at Southend Council, said: “I am very pleased that such a large fine has been handed out. Veolia offer a cheap and efficient bulky waste collection and so there is absolutely no excuse for fly-tipping. These two mattresses could have been collected for just £12.50 and instead Mr Pang has ended up with an £1,800 fine.

“Fly-tipping is a blight on the local community, and I hope this serves as a warning. Where we can gain evidence, and we are very thankful to the member of the public who provided a statement as part of our evidence, we will take enforcement action.”

In another case heard on the same day, Robert Crow was fined £317.80 for failing to comply with a notice requesting removal of a number of waste items in his front and rear gardens at Devereux Road, Southend, by September 2, 2016.

This was under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act.  He was fined £100, with costs of £187.80, and a £30 victim surcharge.

A greengrocer was also fined again after ignoring repeated warnings and a previous notice and prosecution in October 2016 for putting items for sale outside his shop but blocking the public pavement.

Mr K Ali who runs The Greenhouse at 121 High Street, Southend received a £738.80 fine (£300 fine, £200 for breach of previous fine, costs of £208.80 and a £30 victim surcharge).

Mr Cox, said: “Food, chairs, tables and A-Boards spilling out across the High Street are unsightly, and create dangerous obstructions for all pedestrians, but particularly wheelchair users, the blind and the visually impaired. This is the second prosecution in this case, following the issuing of a removal notice in April 2016, and a successful prosecution in October 2016 which has also since been ignored.

“The initial notice and prosecution followed several warnings to Mr Ali to stop this practise and a number of complaints from the BID, ward councillors and other businesses who wanted enforcement action taken.”

The offence falls under Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980.