A landlord and its company director whose South Norwood property was used as an illegal rubbish dump have become the 171st prosecution under the council’s Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride campaign.
At Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (19 September), Bureau Frances Delvarr Ltd and its company director Jeremy Frances Delvarr were found guilty in their absence and ordered to pay £9,870 for letting the back gardens of 9-10 Market Parade in Portland Road become piled high with household and commercial rubbish.
The court was told that Croydon Council environmental enforcement officers issued a community protection notice to both the company and Mr Delvarr on 7 February to clear the waste, which included mattresses, furniture, boxes and black bags of rubbish behind the two empty shop units.
Despite site visits from the council and a request for Mr Delvarr to attend both an informal meeting and a formal interview under caution to explain the fly-tip, the waste had still not been cleared by 7 April and Mr Delvarr had not got in touch. The council then began formal proceedings for both the community protection notice breach and Mr Delvarr’s failure to attend the formal interview under caution, which is a criminal offence under section 108 of the Environment Act 1995.
District Judge Nigel McLean sentenced Bureau Frances Delvarr Ltd and Mr Delvarr to a combined total of £9,870 in fines, surcharges and court costs. The company was ordered to pay a £5,000 fine for breaching the community protection notice, a £170 company surcharge, and legal costs of £1,025. Mr Delvarr, aged 69, of Gloucester Terrace in Paddington, London, was ordered to pay £1,000 for breaching the community protection notice, £1,025 court costs, £1,500 for breaching the section 108 notice to attend the formal interview under caution, and a £150 director surcharge.
“Fly-tips on private land are just as bad as those on our streets, and this case shows our officers will continue to prosecute offences like this. I urge all private landlords to keep their Croydon properties tidy, and if they let them become dumping grounds we’ll take action.”
Councillor Stuart Collins, deputy leader – Clean Green Croydon
The council has now successfully prosecuted 171 cases since launching its Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride campaign in summer 2014, which combines getting local people to become community champions with enforcement against the worst offenders. As well as prosecuting people in court, the council has also signed up more than 300 community champions who lead litter picks.
To report a fly-tip confidentially, use the My Croydon app, notify the council through My Account, call 0208 604 7000 or email flytip@croydon.gov.uk
