A WOMAN who lives in a Cotswold village has been fined after the council found a pile of flytipped household rubbish near Andoversford. 

Terri Winter from Rye Close, Bourton was fined £500 after being found guilty of a breach of duty of care to transfer household waste only to an authorised person on July 31.

She was fined £200 at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court and ordered to pay another £220 to the council and a victim surcharge of £80. 

Cotswold District Council councillor Juliet Layton, cabinet member for regulatory services, said: “We’re pleased that this has been a successful prosecution for the council.

"Our environmental teams work hard to keep the district clean, tidy and safe but some people don’t play their part.

"What we are seeing time and time again is illegitimate waste removal services offering cheap prices.

"These traders are often unlicensed and cut corners to dispose of waste illegally. 

“Fly-tipping can blight our countryside and communities.

"Fly-tipping is a criminal act, and we will do everything we can to prosecute offenders in all cases.

"If you witness an incident of fly-tipping, please report it as soon as you can to give us the best chance of catching the perpetrators.”

The council has said that it would like to remind everyone that it is their responsibility to ensure their waste is disposed of properly and if someone else dumps your rubbish you could still be fined.

Kevin Lea, enviro-crime programmes officer at Cotswold District Council, said: “Responsible, safe and legal disposal of waste is the responsibility of the household occupier, regardless of who is physically disposing of the waste.

"All reasonable measures must be taken to ensure that waste is transferred and taken away by an authorised person.

"If your waste is fly-tipped, by you or by someone else on your behalf, you could face a £600 fixed penalty notice. 

“Clearing fly-tips costs the taxpayers thousands of pounds each year and anyone found will always be prosecuted - this case is a clear example of what will happen when the council traces the waste back.”