Two taxi drivers told to pay over £500 after court finds them guilty of littering

Image credit: Hyndburn Borough Council

Two taxi drivers have been fined for littering from their car windows in Hyndburn, as part of the borough council's crackdown on flytipping and littering.

Both cases were presented to Burnley Magistrates' Court and tried by magistrates at the end of August 2023, who proceeded with the hearings despite the two defendants failing to attend court on the day.

The two defendants were both found guilty and convicted of the offence, resulting in hefty fines for their offences. Both defendants faced £220 fines, £88 victim surcharges, and £250 cost for the Council, totalling to £558 to be paid to the court within 28 days or they will face further charges.

Hyndburn Borough Council has a zero-tolerance policy towards fly-tipping and littering, and enforcement action could be taken against anyone who: drops or deposits litter, fails to present their waste in their wheeled bin, allows waste to accumulate on their property, or fly-tips waste.

The council's crackdown on fly-tipping and littering is a welcome move, and it is important to send a strong message that such actions will not be tolerated. The fines imposed on the two taxi drivers are a reminder that there are consequences for littering, and we all have a role to play in keeping our borough clean and tidy.

Cllr Steven Smithson, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, said: “I have always been vocal about my commitment to cleaning up our borough and I can assure residents that I will continue to push forward with this throughout my time as Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services. Simply put, littering is completely unacceptable and it is a real shame that a minority of people think that they can get away with this.

"I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in seeing the prosecution of these individuals and I am keen to remind all residents that these individuals are not the exception – there are hefty fines for flytipping waste (including littering) and this ongoing Council action demonstrates our commitment to enforcing these consequences in service of shaping a cleaner, healthier Borough.”