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Litter row man says: "I'm innocent"
10:26am Monday 31st March 2008
A MAN accused of dumping rubbish outside his house has claimed it is not his fault - and blamed local vandals.
Gary Rostron, 33, from Moorgate Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn, has received a £60 fine from Blackburn with Darwen Council, who said they had evidence to prove that it was his rubbish.
He and other residents of the same housing block have been sent joint warnings about the problem in the past.
But he said there is nothing they can do as he thinks people are deliberately emptying the bins into the street when residents go to work.
"How am I supposed to be able to look after my bins when I go to work?" he said.
"This has been a problem for a while and we have had rats, and the council pest controller has been around a number of times and said there was a serious infestation."
"They've given me 20 days to pay the fine and then they will increase it to £100, so I don't really have any time to get a lawyer or anything."
However, a borough Ccuncil spokesman said: "He is welcome to not pay the fine and go to court to cobntest this matter."
The council's director of regeneration and environment, Peter Hunt added: "People have a duty to dispose of rubbish in a responsible manner.
"Extra bags of rubbish cannot be left in alleyways because it can attract rats, dogs and cats."
He also said the council only collect rubbish on collection day and that it does not take extra bags of rubbish, as residents can go to waste or recycling centres themselves.
Your Say YourTelegraph
jim, blackburn says...
1:52pm Wed 16 Apr 08
jean thomson, scotland says...
6:09pm Tue 8 Apr 08
patrick, blackburn says...
7:41pm Fri 4 Apr 08
Stig of the dump, The dump says...
7:19pm Tue 1 Apr 08
Our neighbour put there full bin out the day after the bin day, next day it was kicked over outside there front door, everyday for over a week they walked past THERE rubbish to get in and out of the front door (yes did phone up council and left a note with the neighbour) but In the end we had to phone TVH to complain and was told it would be the neighbourly thing to do, if you pick it up for them
And the evidence they could have is what everybody does, the house number is on the bin, my mum got a letter about her bin not being used for recyclables, the only thing is, yes it had A number on, but her grey bin was in her garden, the bin was from the next street.
If you don`t want the rubbish spies to find you, shred all you paperwork, and don`t put your house number on the bin, use a symbol like we do.
steve, accrington says...
11:55am Tue 1 Apr 08
samba, burn says...
11:11am Tue 1 Apr 08
vikingpower, blackburn says...
6:46am Tue 1 Apr 08
Sarah, says...
10:06pm Mon 31 Mar 08
Shocked wrote:Why shocked? This man has NOT been found guilty of any offence.
The Council would not issue a fine if they didnt have the evidence. Pay the fine own up and be responsible there are too many dobbers out there dropping litter and flytipping if you realsied the amount of resources it takes to clear up the mess you would think twice, you would get better facilities as the budgets would be allocated better and also we would have a clean green and pleasant land. The top four comments disgust me.
He is as entitled to a fair trial as anyone who is accused of a crime.
He has not been fined. He has received a fixed penalty, which he is allowed to refuse and opt for a Court hearing instead. That way, his own evidence can be heard too.
Surely you have to agree that this is a reasonable way of dealing with the situation?
Shocked, says...
6:40pm Mon 31 Mar 08
Capt.Dobey, LA says...
6:27pm Mon 31 Mar 08
roy wallbank, burnley says...
6:11pm Mon 31 Mar 08
Margaret Rothwell, Oswaldtwistle says...
5:39pm Mon 31 Mar 08
I saw someone deposit a dog mess bag in it.
I think flat dwellers should be provided with a padlocked bin store.
rocky robin, cherry tree says...
5:13pm Mon 31 Mar 08
falcon wrote:you don't have a problem! thats cause your a bird of prey and don't have much rubbish like me
hmmm why ''would'' people deliberately be emptying the bins into the street when he goes to work??? i don't get it?? i have never had a problem and work full time i place my bin out at 7.00 am before i leave for work and drag it back in when i get home. i just really don't get why people would tip and take the trouble to empty his bin on the floor?? what would be the point?? odd if you ask me!! i think it could be a case of likely story mate '' cause ya got caught'' the council must have some sort of evidence to fine this chap....
falcon, mill hill blackburn says...
2:24pm Mon 31 Mar 08
i have never had a problem and work full time i place my bin out at 7.00 am before i leave for work and drag it back in when i get home.
i just really don't get why people would tip and take the trouble to empty his bin on the floor?? what would be the point?? odd if you ask me!! i think it could be a case of likely story mate '' cause ya got caught''
the council must have some sort of evidence to fine this chap....
david insworth, waterfoot says...
1:19pm Mon 31 Mar 08
Andy, Lancs says...
11:27am Mon 31 Mar 08
El Grumpo, Blackburn says...
10:58am Mon 31 Mar 08
They've given me 20 days to pay the fine and then they will increase it to £100, so I don't really have any time to get a lawyer or anything.
It takes longer than twenty days to find a lawyer?
Sarah, Preston says...
10:33am Mon 31 Mar 08
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FINED: Gary Rostron with bin at Moorgate Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn
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Mr Angry, Blackburn says...
7:44pm Wed 30 Apr 08