A COMPANY which failed to clear fly-tipped rubbish from its land has been fined £20,000 by magistrates in Bradford.

The court was told that people had complained about the rubbish which was an eyesore and became rat-infested.

An outbuilding on the land on the east side of Mansfield Road, Manningham, was also being used by drug users.

After receiving the complaints, Bradford Council investigated and in June last year officers served a Community Protection Notice on the company which owned the land, Acornford Estates (Northern), which is based in Savile Row, London.

The notice required the company to clean up the site and take steps to prevent further fly-tipping.

After a failed appeal against the notice by the company, a compliance date of October 21, 2016 was set but when officers visited the site a week later the accumulated rubbish was still present, said Council prosecutor Harjit Ryatt.

No-one from the company attended the hearing and magistrates found the company guilty in its absence.

The company was found £20,000 with £1,010 costs and £170 Victim Surcharge. The company has also been issued with a remedial order which requires it to comply with the Community Protection Notice.

Failure to do so could result in imprisonment or further fines.

Following the hearing, Councillor Sarah Ferriby, the Council’s executive member for the environment, said: “We are very pleased that the courts treat these cases as seriously as the Council does.

“This is the largest fine that the magistrates could have imposed and is the largest fine that our enforcement officers have secured.

“We are determined to do all we can to battle against the scourge of fly-tipping. That means we want to prosecute those who dump rubbish illegally and those who allow fly-tipping to take place on their land without doing anything to clean it up or prevent it happening again.

“If you see fly-tipping taking place, please note down as many details as possible, including vehicle licence plate numbers and inform the Council.”

Fly-tipping can be reported be calling the Council 01274 434366 and asking for the Environment Enforcement Team or online at bradford.gov.uk.