The person responsible for a large fly tip is facing substantial clean-up costs after admitting tipping soil and waste in Cobham.
In May 2021 we were made aware of tipper lorries depositing waste alongside Church Road in Cobham.
Our Environmental Enforcement team attended and found that a bund consisting of mixed waste and topsoil, had been built from close to the junction of Henhurst Road for several hundred metres towards Ifield.
The bund consisted of building waste and landscaping material, covered by topsoil. It had been created close to the carriageway and some of the materials, including large pieces of concrete, had fallen onto the road surface, causing danger to traffic.
The bund had been built on top of hedging and other vegetation, burying it and obstructing a nearby drainage channel.
Later that month, we received information that a tipper truck was depositing more waste at the location.
Environmental Enforcement officers quickly attended and found a large tipper vehicle belonging to a local haulage company in the process of depositing further waste.
Those responsible were spoken to and were unable to provide any details of permission or legal authority to deposit the waste. Subsequent investigations found that the load had originated from a garden clearance in the Gravesend area.
The Environment Agency and Kent County Council, the landowner, confirmed that no permission or authorisation had been given to deposit the waste at the location.
An officer from the Environment Agency surveyed the site and found that the bund had been constructed from mixed waste items, including soil, rubble and building materials, and found it to be about 365 metres in length and consisting of several hundred tons of waste.
An investigation was begun by our Environmental Enforcement team and successfully identified the responsible person, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Due to the team’s hard work, they have been able to secure remediation of the site - relying on the ‘polluter pays’ principle, ensuring that those responsible have footed the entire bill for the clearance rather than any of the costs falling to the public purse.
By dealing with the case in this way Gravesham has secured clearance of the site at a far more significant cost to the polluter than they would have faced.
Commenting on the case, Cllr John Burden, Leader said: “This is an unusual case of fly tipping on a large scale over a period of time.
“Thanks to the excellent work of our investigators supported by officials from partner organisations, the company responsible was quickly identified and we will be watching carefully to make sure they clear the waste.
“The person responsible now faces a significant bill, far in excess of the cost of disposing of the waste correctly in the first place, and the message is clear: if you fly tip in Gravesham, no matter who you are, no matter how big or small the incident, if we find you, you will be held responsible for your actions.”
Rubbish and your duty of care
Take environmental crime seriously and will use powers to investigate and prosecute.
Find out about your legal 'duty of care' to make sure what anyone you ask to take away your rubbish, is registered and authorised to do so.
Read about other ways to dispose of your waste safely.
Report fly-tipping in Gravesham online or if you have any information relating to any environmental crime in the borough you can email Tipoff@gravesham.gov.uk