Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

A man has been fined for failing to clean up after his dog in the Latimer Road area of Llandeilo. Council environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in the area at the time of the offence. He was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75 and also asked to clean up the dog’s mess, which was left on the pavement over a distance of approximately 20metres. Failure to pay could result in court prosecution where the maximum fine is £1,000. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Our enforcement officers carry out patrols across the county and this is one of a number of fixed penalties issued recently for dog fouling. “As well as being extremely unpleasant; if left, dog mess can have serious health implications. We are determined to clean up the county and punish those responsible for dog fouling.” Link Report dog fouling online

Five people have been fined by council environmental enforcement officers for dropping cigarette ends. Fixed penalty notices for £75 were issued by officers for the littering offences. The first was to a woman in Ropewalk Road in Llanelli. Further fines were also issued to a woman in Carmarthen’s Tesco car park and to two women in the McDonald’s car park in Pensarn. Finally, officers issued a fixed penalty notice to a woman who threw a cigarette end from a car in Station Road, Glanamman. Failure to pay could result in prosecution in the magistrates court where the maximum fine is £2,500. Research carried out by Keep Wales Tidy shows that smoking-related litter is the most common type of litter found on streets. Figures for Carmarthenshire show that it makes up approximately 80% of our litter. Director of Environment Ruth Mullen said: “Keeping Carmarthenshire clean is a major priority. We do not want to fine people, but if they continue to break the law in this way then we have little...

A Llanelli landlord has been fined a total of £360 by Carmarthen magistrates for failing to produce the relevant paperwork for the disposal of his business waste. Ian Witty, landlord of both the Railway Tavern and Apple Tree Inn in Station Road, pleaded guilty to two offences contrary to Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act. He was fined £180 for each offence and ordered to pay £318.84 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge by Carmarthen magistrates. The court heard that Witty had failed to produce waste transfer notes showing where the business waste from both premises was being disposed of. In June last year, council environmental enforcement officers had found waste strewn across the back lane to the rear of the Railway Tavern where a large volume of cans and other waste was being stored. The officers visited the Apple Tree Inn to speak to Witty and there they found a large quantity of blue recycling bags containing empty cans in the beer garden. Witty was issued w...

Another two people have been fined for dog fouling offences in Carmarthenshire. The first was to a woman in Golwg yr Amman Park in Glanamman who used a plastic scoop to pick up her dog’s mess, but then threw it into a hedge. She was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75 by council environmental enforcement officers who were on patrol in the area at the time. The second fine was issued to the owner of a dog in Llandovery. The dog fouled on the footpath which runs along the river by Swan Bridge. The dog was allowed to freely enter and exit a property on the estate. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “It is unacceptable to throw dog mess into the hedge; council operatives use strimmers and other equipment. Please use a public litter bin or take it home to dispose of if there are no bins nearby. “In the second incident, the dog was allowed to roam freely and the owner had no intention of cleaning up after it. If residents know of simi...

A man has been ordered to pay more than £500 by magistrates for a fly-tipping offence in Llandysul. Nicholas Aron Lloyd, aged 27, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty by post to an offence contrary to Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Carmarthen Magistrates Court heard that in September last year the council’s environmental enforcement unit received a complaint that household waste had been dumped at the entrance to the Welsh Water Sewage Disposal Works in Llandysul. Officers attended the incident and found a quantity of household waste including a TV. They traced it to a nearby rented property. They contacted the landlord who explained that household waste had been left in the garden by a previous tenant. However, the landlord had contacted the tenant to remove the waste so that her deposit could be returned. The officers visited the tenant at her new address and showed her a picture of the waste. She confirmed it was her waste left in the garden of her previous prop...

Six people have been fined for dropping cigarette ends. Council environmental enforcement officers issued the fixed penalty notices for £75 for littering offences. A Trimsaran man, a woman from Swiss Valley and a woman from Burry Port were fined in separate incidents in Llanelli town centre and a further fine was issued to a man who dropped his cigarette in Coleshill Terrace, Llanelli. A Llansteffan man was caught by officers throwing a cigarette from a vehicle in Seaview Terrace, Burry Port; and a Pencader man was also fined for throwing a cigarette from a vehicle in Myrtle Hill, Carmarthen. Failure to pay could lead to court prosecution and a maximum fine of up to £2,500. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said the council had a zero tolerance approach to littering. Approximately 80% of litter on Carmarthenshire streets is smoking-related. Cllr Jones added: “Cigarette ends fall into grates and cracks in the pavement and cannot be removed b...

A Llanelli man has been ordered to pay more than £500 in fines and court costs for offences in relation to his business waste. Ishtiaq Ahmed Sheikh, aged 67, Dillwyn Street, pleaded guilty to two offences contrary to Section 47 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Carmarthen Magistrates Court. The court heard that council environmental enforcement officers were inspecting the rear lanes of Station Road on June 2 last year when they saw an overflowing trade waste bin belonging to Supersave. Sheikh, who runs the business, had already been issued with a section 47 notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to make sure that the waste is stored correctly and that the lid of the bin is closed at all times. On June 24, the officers called at the shop and then at Sheikh’s home address. He told them that he had arranged for the trade bin to be removed from his premises as he was no longer generating any waste. However, the officers explained that this was not the case as there...

An Amman Valley woman has been ordered to pay more than £600 by magistrates after rubbish was found dumped on the picturesque Black Mountain in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Pamela Ann Jones, aged 52, of Cowell Road in Garnant, pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Carmarthen Magistrates Court. The court heard that Jones had paid two unknown males to clear waste from her brother’s property, which was then found dumped on the Black Mountain. She was interviewed by council environmental enforcement officers and conceded that she did not carry out any checks on the two unknown males to establish if they were licensed waste carriers, as required by law. Jones was fined £100 by magistrates and ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “We all have a responsibility to make sure that waste from our homes is disposed...

An Amman Valley woman has been fined £75 for dropping a cigarette end. Council environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in the Heol Gelynen area of Upper Brynamman at the time of the offence. She told the officers that she knew it was wrong to drop litter . She was issued with a fixed penalty notice. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in court and a fine of up to £2,500. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said the council had a zero tolerance approach to littering. In particular, smoking-related litter can be found on around 80% of Carmarthenshire streets. Cllr Jones said: “Cigarette ends fall into grates and cracks in the pavement and cannot be removed by normal cleaning methods. “Hopefully this latest fine will help to raise awareness of the problem and deter people from dropping this type of litter.” Enforcement officers carry out regular patrols across the county.

Two people have been fined £75 for dropping cigarette ends. Council environmental enforcement officers issued the fixed penalty notices to the two men in Llandovery. They were on patrol in the area ta the time of the offences. Failure to pay the fixed penalty notices could lead to prosecution in court and a fine of up to £2,500. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said the council had a zero tolerance approach to littering. Smoking-related litter - predominantly made up of cigarette ends – can be found on around 80% of Carmarthenshire streets. Not only are cigarette ends difficult to clean up but they can affect the environment and wildlife by contaminating water supplies with toxic chemicals. Cllr Jones added: “Cigarette ends fall into grates and cracks in the pavement and cannot be removed by normal cleaning methods. “Hopefully these fines will help to raise awareness of the problem and deter people from dropping this type of litter. “Our e...

A Llandovery business has been fined £100 for failing to have proper arrangements in place for the disposal of its waste. The owner was issued with a fixed penalty notice by council environmental enforcement officers. All businesses must have an agreement in place with a fully licensed waste company to make sure that any waste produced during the course of their business, is stored, transported and disposed of without harming the environment; known as their ‘Duty of Care.’ Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “The business in question was given 21 days to resolve the issue; however it failed to do so and was fined as a result. “The majority of businesses in Carmarthenshire are compliant with the legislation but we will not hesitate to take action against those who are not.” For further information visit the council website or call Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567.

A Llanelli pub has been fined £300 following a complaint that they were putting their business waste in black bags. It is against the law for trade waste to be collected as household waste. All businesses must have a trade waste agreement in place making sure their waste is removed by a licensed waste carrier. The pub was fined £300 by council environmental enforcement officers for failing to produce the relevant paperwork for the removal of their waste. It was unable to produce waste transfer notes showing where the waste was being taken. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “All businesses have a responsibility to ensure reasonable measures are taken to dispose of their waste. “The majority of businesses in Carmarthenshire are fully aware and compliant but it is important that we remind people of the legislation.” Businesses have a ‘Duty of Care’ to make sure that any waste produced during the course of their business, is stored, trans...

A Llandybie man has been fined £220 for dumping a large builder’s bag of garden waste next to the recycling banks in Tumble Hall car park. David Mark Williams, aged 35, of Ammanford Road, was also ordered to pay £139 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £22. He failed to attend Carmarthen Magistrates Court and was convicted in absence of an offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The court heard that on April 23 earlier this year the council’s environmental enforcement section received a report that a large builder’s bag of green waste had been dumped next to the recycling banks in Tumble Hall car park. CCTV footage revealed the vehicle involved and enquiries were made with the DVLA to find the registered keeper. The owner told officers one of his employees was the driver at the time of the incident. As it was a small amount of green waste, Williams was offered a fixed penalty notice for littering, which he accepted. However, he failed to pay it,...

An Amman Valley woman has been fined £220 for dropping a cigarette end on the ground at Llanelli bus station. Helen Rebecca Stephens, aged 21, of Cwmamman Road, Garnant, failed to attend Carmarthen Magistrates Court and was convicted in absence to an offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. She was also ordered to pay £225.11 prosecution costs and a £22 victim surcharge. The court heard that on April 25 earlier this year council environmental enforcement officers were on patrol at Llanelli bus station when saw a woman who was sitting on a bench drop her cigarette end on to the ground. The officers waited five minutes but no attempt was made to pick it up. She was issued with a fixed penalty notice but failed to pay it, despite a reminder letter being sent. Discarded cigarette ends make up the largest proportion of litter in Carmarthenshire and are found on around 80 per cent of county streets.

A woman has been fined £75 for throwing litter from a moving car. Council environmental enforcement officers were driving along the A485 in Carmarthen near Glangwili Hospital when they saw her throw tissue paper out of a car window. The woman was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in court where the maximum fine is £2,500. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Car litter is a major problem throughout the UK with cigarette ends, crisp packets, drinks cans and fast food littering our verges. “Anyone caught will be fined; but we need your help to keep Carmarthenshire clean by reporting anyone you see dropping litter from a vehicle. Our environmental enforcement officers can then make inquiries to identify the offender.” Note the registration number along with the car make, model and colour if possible as well as the date and time of the offence and then go to i-Local.

Six people have been fined for dropping cigarette ends in Carmarthenshire. Carmarthenshire Council environmental enforcement officers issued the fixed penalty notices for £75 for the littering offences. Failure to pay could lead to court prosecution and a maximum fine of up to £2,500. The fines were issued to a female in the Co-op car park in Cross Hands; a male in McDonald’s car park in Parc Trostre, Llanelli; two males in the service station car park in Pont Abraham; and two males in Llanybydder. The enforcement officers carry out patrols across the county seven days a week and anyone caught dropping litter can be fined. Approximately 80% of litter in Carmarthenshire is smoking-related. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Discarded cigarette ends make up the largest proportion of litter in Carmarthenshire and not only do they look unpleasant but they are also very difficult and costly to clean up as they fall into grates and cracks i...

A Llanelli man has been fined £300 by magistrates for failing to clean up after his dog. Kevin Hector Goddard, aged 49, of New Dock Road, was also ordered to pay £288 prosecution costs and a £30 victim surcharge. Goddard failed to attend Carmarthen Magistrates Court and the case against him was proven in absence. He was prosecuted by the council for an offence contrary to section three of the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996. The court heard that on January 22 earlier this year environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in New Dock Road when they witnessed a man failing to clean up after his dog. Goddard was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75 for the offence but he did not pay it and was prosecuted in court as a result. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “ Dog fouling is not only extremely unpleasant but it can have serious health consequences. “We will not hesitate to take action against anyone who fails to clean up aft...

A Gwendraeth Valley man has been fined £300 for leaving bags of glass on the ground at a recycling site. Joseph Edward Malcolm Smith, aged 19, of The Dingles, Cwmgwili, was seen by council environmental enforcement officers leaving three bags of glass next to the recycling banks in the Co-op car park in Cross Hands. He was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75 for the offence, which happened on February 15 this year, but failed to pay it. Smith failed to attend Carmarthen Magistrates Court and the case against him was proven in his absence. He was prosecuted for an offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and was also ordered to pay £158 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Our recycling sites are important facilities for the local community and they need to be kept tidy but unfortunately some people are too lazy to use the recycling banks so just leave them on t...

A man has been fined after he dumped a load of blue bags at one of Carmarthenshire Council’s recycling sites. Council environmental enforcement officers received a complaint of waste being dumped on the ground next to the recycling banks in Llanybydder car park. The site has recycling banks for glass, cans, paper, textiles and shoes, small electrical and books, CDs and DVDs. There is no facility for recycling blue bags at the site. Officers managed to trace the man responsible for dumping the bags and he was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75. If he doesn’t pay he could be prosecuted in court and fined up to £2,500. People are being reminded that blue bags should be put out for collection at the kerbside or taken to a main household waste centre. Glass bottles and other recyclable waste must be placed into the banks and not left on the ground. If they are full please report it to the council. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said:...

A man has been fined after he dumped a load of blue bags at one of the council’s recycling sites. Council environmental enforcement officers received a complaint of waste being dumped on the ground next to the recycling banks in Llanybydder car park. The site has recycling banks for glass, cans, paper, textiles and shoes, small electrical and books, CDs and DVDs. There is no facility for recycling blue bags at the site. Officers managed to trace the man responsible for dumping the bags and he was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75. If he doesn’t pay he could be prosecuted in court and fined up to £2,500. People are being reminded that blue bags should be put out for collection at the kerbside or taken to a main household waste centre. Glass bottles and other recyclable waste must be placed into the banks and not left on the ground. If they are full please report it to the council. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “We are ver...