Woman from Partington fined for dumping bags full of rubbish in her garden

A woman from Partington has been fined for dumping bags full of rubbish in her untidy garden.

Miss Kempston, of Long Walk, Partington, was ordered to pay £874 at Manchester Magistrates Court after failing to comply with Trafford Council notice to remove the waste.

Trafford Council got involved in May 2024 after her neighbours complained about her garden.

An Environmental Enforcement Officer wrote to Miss Kempston requesting that she remove the waste from the garden. The letter informed her that the garden would be inspected again in 2 weeks.

No action had been taken to remove the rubbish when officers carried out a follow-up visit in June.

The Council issued a Community Protection Notice to Miss Kempston, requiring all waste to be removed from around the property and to not store any further waste in the garden.

But when no action had been taken by August, she was taken to court.

On Friday 24 January, Miss Kempston was found guilty in her absence of failing to adhere to the requirements set out in a Community Protection Notice. She was fine £440 with £258 awarded in costs and £176 victim surcharge.

Cllr Stephen Adshead, Executive Member for Highways, Environmental and Traded Services, said:

“We are committed to making sure our communities are happy, healthy and safe. Covering the garden with sacks of rubbish not only looks unsightly but it can also attract vermin.

“After neighbours had rightly complained, we acted swiftly and gave Miss Kempston every opportunity to deal with the problem. She refused to communicate with us and we were left with no option but to take her to court.”

Cllr Adshead added:

“There is no excuse for leaving your garden in such a mess that neighbours are forced to complain. Rubbish can be easily disposed for free of at one of our household waste recycling centres.

“If your waste is too large to take, we have a bulky item collection service that costs a lot less than being taken to court and fined.

“The choice is yours.”