A shocking incident of flytipping in Hampshire has left a nursery facing a significant clean-up cost after three men were caught on camera dumping household waste on private land.
In a brazen act of environmental disregard, three men were captured on CCTV dumping a van-load of household waste on private land in New Milton, Hampshire. The incident, which took place on a Saturday morning, has left Double H Nurseries with a substantial clean-up bill and a sense of frustration over the lack of consequences for the perpetrators.
The men, operating a tipper truck emblazoned with the logo of GL Property Maintenance, reversed their vehicle into a field and quickly offloaded their cargo. The waste included bulky items such as chairs and an oven, totaling around ten large pieces.
The entire operation took less than three minutes, allowing the men to flee the scene before nursery staff could intervene.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
The footage shows one man, dressed in orange Before tipping the waste, the men removed personal items from the truck, including what appeared to be a strimmer and a petrol can, before driving off.
Double H Nurseries now faces a clean-up bill of approximately £1,000 to properly dispose of the illegal waste. Andy Burton, the managing director of Double H, expressed his frustration over the incident, highlighting the financial burden it places on their business. ‘It’s just so frustrating. We are trying to run a business and this is another thing that costs us thousands of pounds to get rid of it all,’ he stated.
The Response from Authorities
Despite reporting the incident to both the police and the local council, Double H Nurseries found little support. The police deemed it not their jurisdiction, and the council, while expressing a willingness to prosecute where possible, stated that the clearance of the fly tip is the responsibility of the landowner.
A spokesperson for New Forest District Council reiterated their stance, saying, ‘In any incident of fly tipping we will seek to prosecute where possible. Clearance of a fly tip is the responsibility of the landowner.’ This leaves Double H Nurseries to bear the cost and effort of removing the waste themselves.
The Company’s Response
When contacted by the Daily Mail, a representative for GL Property Maintenance initially claimed to be unaware of the incident. However, upon being informed of the available footage, the representative responded with a vulgar remark, refusing to acknowledge the incident further. This lack of accountability has only added to the frustration felt by the nursery staff.
The branding on the truck suggests that GL Property Maintenance specializes in services such as tree removal, hedge trimming, fencing, garden clearance, and driveways. However, a search of the government’s licensed waste carriers register did not yield a matching firm, raising questions about the legitimacy of the company’s operations.
The incident highlights the ongoing issue of flytipping and the challenges faced by businesses and landowners in dealing with such illegal activities. The lack of immediate consequences for the perpetrators underscores the need for stronger enforcement and support for victims of flytipping.
