AN Ellesmere Port woman has been ordered to pay a total of £1,062.50 after being prosecuted for fly-tipping by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Natasha Williams, 25, of Eleanor Street, admitted three fly-tipping offences involving waste left in an alleyway at Fleming Street, Ellesmere Port during spring 2018.

The council’s Regulatory Services team undertook proactive investigations in a number of hot-spot locations and Williams’s waste was identified in the alleyway at the rear of her property on three separate occasions.

Williams was interviewed under caution in the course of the investigation when she admitted the offences.

Chester Magistrates Court imposed fines and costs totalling £1,062.50. Williams received a fine of £200 for the fly-tipping offence and was also ordered to pay costs of £832.50 and a victim surcharge of £30.

As well as the environmental impact, it costs the council around £600,000 a year to clear litter and fly-tipped waste in the Northwich, Ellesmere Port and Chester areas.

The council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Karen Shore, said: “This is our second successful fly-tipping prosecution this month. We all have a duty to ensure our waste is disposed of properly and in this case our advice to this resident was repeatedly ignored.

"No waste should ever be stored in an alleyway at any time.

“Please help us tackle this problem and report inconsiderate fly-tippers, who still think they can dispose of rubbish wherever they want causing problems for residents and draining council services.”

If you discover illegal tipping of waste or see it being tipped, support the council’s Love Your Streets campaign and report it 24 hours a day on the council’s website (search 'fly-tipping’), on the Your Streets website (www.westcheshireyourstreets.co.uk), via Twitter (@Go_Cheshirewest), or in person at any of the council’s customer service centres.