A MAN has been prosecuted after dumping nine tonnes of clay-like waste near a church in the Yate area.
South Gloucestershire Council received reports of a large fly-tip in Church Lane, Old Sodbury near St John the Baptist Church in November 2024.
CCTV footage showed a lorry depositing the waste.
Investigations revealed that the lorry was in the possession of Philip Prince, aged 33, at the time of the offence.
This was confirmed through company records and GPS tracking data.
Prince, of Rock Cross, Rock, Kidderminster, was interviewed under caution and admitted negligence in failing to check the waste being unloaded from his trailer.
He appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Monday, July 21, where he pleaded guilty to fly-tipping and failing to prevent the escape of waste.
He was fined £320 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £128 and costs of £1,522 - a total of £1,970.
Two other individuals have also been prosecuted by the council for fly-tipping.
Frantisek Mizera, 27, was prosecuted after children's play equipment, doors, and rubbish were found dumped in Hambrook Lane, Stoke Gifford, in October 2024.
Mizera admitted responsibility and confirmed that he had operated without a registered waste carrier’s licence and failed to provide waste transfer notes to customers.
He pleaded guilty to the offences at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on July 21 where he was £769 and ordered to pay a £308 surcharge and costs of £1,105 - a total of £2,182.
Lastly, Ellis Cole, aged 24, of Courtney Way, Kingswood, was prosecuted for failing to comply with his household waste duty of care and ordered to pay a total of £760.
A fly-tip was reported in Kingswood at a known hotspot in January 2025, where the council had installed CCTV and warning signs.
The cameras recorded a white Ford Transit van dumping household waste and cardboard.
Packaging found in the waste was later traced to Cole’s address.
He was found guilty at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on July 21, where he was fined £80, ordered to pay a surcharge of £80, and costs of £600.
Councillor Sean Rhodes, SGC cabinet member for environmental enforcement said: “We take environmental offences very seriously and will not hesitate to take action against those who break the law.
"Prosecutions such as these help to make our communities cleaner and safer places, and it is inexcusable for someone to thoughtlessly dump their waste and expect others to foot the bill for clearing it up."
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