Landscape gardener ordered to pay almost £2,000 after being caught dumping rubbish in Milton Keynes field

Jonathan Welch, also known as Jonathan Moore, was trading as KAS Landscapes and had been contracted to carry out landscaping work at an address in Springfield in June 2019, Milton Keynes magistrates heard.

As the garden work was being done, soil, paving slabs and fence panels were dumped on council land at the rear of the address.

Welch was asked to remove the waste, but he failed to do so. A new contractor was then employed to complete the work in the garden and remove the waste.

Officers from Milton Keynes Council’s Environmental Crime Unit tracked down Welch, but he failed to co-operate with the investigation and was summonsed to appear before Milton Keynes Magistrates court.

He was fined £1216 and ordered to pay the council’s legal and investigation costs of £637.98 plus a victim surcharge of £122.

Cabinet Member for the Public Realm, Cllr Emily Darlington said, “Some traders try to gain a competitive advantage by under quoting for waste removal or by taking your money and just dumping the waste. It is important to remember that you are ultimately responsible for your rubbish, wherever it ends up.

In this instance, the customer had kept sufficient records for us to be able to trace the offender, although they ended up paying twice, for another contractor to remove the waste.”

MK Council reminds residents that if you pay someone, for example, a builder, carpet fitter or tradesperson to take away your rubbish always ask to see their waste carrier’s licence. If someone fly tips your rubbish you could be liable, even if you thought it was done in good faith.

MK Council has a list of approved contractors under the Buy With Confidence scheme which can be found here.