'Reckless and selfish' dumping of asbestos fetches £4,200 penalty

A man who dumped materials containing asbestos in a South Bucks lay-by has been forced to cough up more than £4,200 for his ‘reckless and selfish act’.

Gurpreet Singh Chatha, 46, from Hayes, said he was paid £200 to remove waste after replacing a garage roof for a customer.

He said he had initially taken the waste to his home address, but after being reprimanded by his wife, he took it upon himself to illegally dispose of the waste elsewhere. 

The waste – corrugated roof sheets containing asbestos – was dumped on the A412 Uxbridge Road in South Bucks on March 22.

The offence was caught on CCTV. Footage showed a man pulling up to the lay-by, emerging from the vehicle and throwing waste into the ditch, before driving away.

Following an investigation by the council’s enforcement team, the vehicle was traced to Chatha. He was interviewed under caution at Slough Police Station, where he admitted to the offence.

Chatha appeared for sentencing at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on August 20.

Magistrates fined Chatha £923 and ordered him to pay full costs of £2,927. A victim surcharge of £369 was added – making a total of £4,219.

Cllr Carl Jackson, the council’s cabinet member for the environment and waste, said: “Fly-tipping will not be tolerated in Buckinghamshire.

“To dump any sort of waste, let alone toxic materials, is a reckless and selfish act. I am pleased the court has imposed a hefty fine as punishment for this criminal action.

“For anyone who thinks they can fly-tip in Buckinghamshire, this case shows yet again that the council will do everything in its power to find the culprits and bring them to justice.”

If you have evidence showing an offence taking place and are willing to provide a witness statement, contact the enforcement team at: SCRAPflytipping@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

To report fly-tipping anywhere in Buckinghamshire visit: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/fix-my-street