Man fined after hiding identity from council
A Southampton man has been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds after operating without the correct waste carrier licence – while telling council officers he was someone else.
Albert Bowers, a member of the travelling community, had been collecting waste without a licence in Andover for over a year. Thanks to an investigation by Test Valley Borough Council, he has now been ordered to pay more than £600.
Council officers received an anonymous tip from a resident who was concerned about Mr Bowers’s practice. Having attended the address reported to them, officers asked Mr Bowers to produce his licence, which he failed to do, before proceeding to tell staff that he was someone completely different. However, officers weren’t fooled and discovered that Mr Bowers was operating illegally.
Mr Bowers, 59, with links to Southampton, admitted operating without a licence and giving officers a false name and address at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on August 1.
Having admitted both charges, he was issued a £140 fine before being made to pay an additional £450 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
Environmental portfolio holder, councillor Alison Johnston, said: “This prosecution is down to the hard work and determination of the council’s staff and I’m tremendously grateful. It is so simple for residents to check if the waste carrier they’re using is licensed. If you don’t have a licence, we will find out and are prepared to take you to court.”
Residents can check if their waste carrier is licensed by visiting the Environment Agency website.