Recent fly-tipping in Watford, Bushey and Kings Langley

Residents have become increasingly frustrated with the mess often near people’s homes.

In one case, rubbish was dumped outside a charity shop.

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Here we round up the most recent fly-tipping cases in relation to Watford and its surrounding areas.

Fly-tipping fine

Chrystian Junio Assis Riberio from Watford admitted to illegal waste dumping in Brawlings Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, when he appeared in Hatfield Magistrates’ Court on July 26.

Chrystian Junio Assis Riberio (Image: Buckinghamshire Council)

• Watford fly-tipper 'caught red handed' in Chalfont St Peter

The 23-year-old was arrested on an outstanding warrant for fly-tipping before the court heard how he had illegally dumped “a large load” of building waste which contained environmentally hazardous materials including paint on September 14, 2021.

The illegally dumped waste. (Image: Buckinghamshire Council)Riberio, of Sleaford Green, was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £400 in clean-up and prosecution costs. In total, he had to pay £2,590 including a £190 victim surcharge.

Van seized

Hertfordshire police seized a van during a crackdown on fly-tipping in Bushey and Radlett in September.

• Radlett and Bushey: Van seized in fly-tipping crackdown

The vehicle - involved in collecting scrap metal - was confiscated for having no tax, no insurance, no waste carriers' licence and no scrap licence.

Charity shop

Staff had to push “grotty” rubbish out of the way to get into a charity shop due to “lazy” people dumping unwanted items.

Age UK’s store in St Albans Road, Watford, welcomes good quality donations given during business hours, but on Saturday, September 23, staff were greeted with a mess blocking the door in the morning.

Fly-tip outside Age UK (Image: Cllr Dawn Allen)With the pile including a folding chair, armchair and various toys, it is being treated as a fly-tip after being left at night.

• Watford Age UK 'grotty' fly-tip 'donations' block door

Shop manager Karen Hird said: “We do get it a lot but not usually quite that bad. It’s sheer laziness, they couldn’t be bothered to take it themselves and it's grotty now.

“They knew we couldn’t take it, but they chose to dump it.”

Overturned van

Police were called at around 7.42am on Sunday, September 17, following reports that building material and household waste had been left on Barnes Lane in Kings Langley.

The fly-tipping in Barnes Lane, Kings Langley (Image: Submitted)

• Fly-tipping and overturned Ford van found in Kings Langley

It is thought that a blue Ford Europe van that had overturned nearby was linked to the dump.

Police confirmed the van was reported as stolen on September 17.  

When pictures of the fly-tipping and the van on its side were shared online, several people referred to the incident as “karma”.

Legal action

Heaps of rubbish was dumped near Leggatts Way, Watford, at the Callowland Allotments car park and near Harebreaks Recreation Ground, in mid-September, before they were reported on Monday, September 25.

The Watford Observer understands that a photo of a van loaded with similar rubbish at another location has been shared with an investigation into the offence.

The fly-tip (Image: Contribution)

• 'Atrocious' Leggatts Way fly-tip under investigation

An Environmental Health spokesperson said: “Watford Borough Council can confirm that a fly-tip report has been received and is subject to an ongoing investigation.

“If the person responsible for the fly-tip can be identified, formal legal action will be taken. Illegal disposal of waste is antisocial, illegal, and we will always take action when we can.”

Serial dumping spots

Callowland representative Dennis Watling recently snapped the fly-tipping hotspots.

Cllr Dennis Watling said residents have complained about persistent fly-tipping. (Image: Cllr Dennis Watling)

• Watford fly-tipping making locals 'sick to the back teeth'

The worst areas are reportedly at the bottom of Victoria Road and nearby alleyways, a path near The Glenn Club, the area near Regent’s Lodge, and Balmoral Road.

The Labour councillor said: "Fly-tipping is not a new phenomenon and nor is it exclusive to just Callowland, but the residents I represent are sick to the back teeth of constantly reporting this.”