A woman was hauled before the courts for illegal dumping
Kirstie McCrum Network Content Editor
05:00, 29 Aug 2025
Paige Allen of North Street, Oldland Common dumped rubbish near her home(Image: South Gloucestershire Council)
A woman who fly-tipped toys, clothing and rubbish at Oldham Common has been ordered to pay £360. Paige Allen pleaded guilty at Bristol Magistrates’ Court to failing in her duty of care when disposing of waste and failing to attend an interview in relation to the fly-tip.
She was fined £180, ordered to pay £100 in costs and a victim surcharge of £80. On November 14, 2024, junk including children’s toys, clothing, and general rubbish was found dumped on a path running alongside the railway line just off North Street.
Officers from South Gloucestershire Council’s Environmental Enforcement team investigated the fly-tip and traced packaging found in the waste to a nearby address where Allen was living. Allen admitted asking her brother to dispose of the waste but claimed not to know how it had been done.
Despite repeated attempts to arrange an interview with Allen, of North Street, Oldland Common, she failed to attend multiple appointments and did not respond to further contact from the council.
Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “This successful prosecution sends a clear message that we will not tolerate fly-tipping. Everyone has a legal responsibility to ensure their waste is properly disposed of, and failing to do so can result in a fine and criminal record.
“We urge residents to be cautious when using third parties to remove waste. Always check that they are registered waste carriers and ask where the waste is going. There are safe and legal ways to dispose of rubbish, including the council’s Sort-It Recycling Centres and bulky waste collection service.”
Residents and businesses are advised to only give their rubbish to an Environment Agency registered waste carrier. People can carry out these steps to make sure waste is disposed of legally:
- Ask for a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate and ask where the waste is being taken. Legitimate firms will be happy to provide this information.
- Do not be tempted to use people offering cheap waste clearance on sites such as Facebook and Gumtree unless you have confirmed that they are registered with the Environment Agency.
- Ask for a registered trading address and contact telephone number for the trader and get a receipt.
Anyone who sees illegal fly-tipping are encouraged to report it by contacting the council’s StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000, emailing streetcare@southglos.gov.uk or visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/flytipping