National retailer B&Q has been fined £500
and ordered to pay £555 costs after being convicted of flyposting
following an investigation by Peterborough City Council.
The case was heard at Peterborough
Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (19 June 2012).
The court heard that a Peterborough City
Council Neighbourhood Officer witnessed the incident on 28 December
2011 at 11.11am, whereby signs relating to B&Q were placed on
the grass road verge using a wooden stake. Signs were also attached
to street furniture via cable ties at the junction of Bourges
Boulevard and Maskew Avenue, Peterborough, without the consent of
the city council, or a reasonable excuse.
The store received a warning to remove the
signs on 28 December 2011 and when on 30 December 2011 no action
had been taken, city council officers took legal action, resulting
in a conviction and fines.
The case involving Mr Walid Aziz was also
heard at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (19 June
2012). Mr Aziz was convicted under the Environmental
Protection Act 1990 after depositing large amounts of household
furniture, including bed bases, mattresses and black bags of
general waste, on land at Helpston Road, Peterborough, with no
permit authorising the deposit. The offence took place in December
2011.
Mr Aziz was fined £265 and ordered to pay £220
in costs plus a £15 victim surcharge.
Councillor
Peter Hiller, Cabinet Member for Housing, Neighbourhoods and
Planning for Peterborough City Council, said: “These cases should
send a warning to any business or individual in Peterborough who
thinks it is acceptable to flypost or deposit waste unlawfully,
anywhere in our city.
“We want Peterborough to be an attractive
place for people to live, work and spend time in, so it is
important that we prosecute those who are working against us.
“The case relating to B&Q highlights the
fact that we will prosecute any company or person for illegal
actions, regardless of their national standing.”
Ends.