A LONDON-based property company has been ordered to pay almost £4,000 after being prosecuted for fly-tipping in Bolton.

Fabco Properties Ltd was taken to court by Bolton Council for dumping unwanted appliances and materials in Edditch Grove, Tonge Fold.

The company pleaded guilty and was fined £1,900, plus £1,862 costs and £170 victim surcharge by Bolton Magistrates Court.

Cllr Nick Peel, executive cabinet member for environmental services, said: “Businesses have a duty of care to make sure reasonable steps are taken to ensure the correct disposal of waste.

“Fabco should have checked how the building company planned to dispose of the waste.

“This prosecution sends a strong message to businesses to ensure that waste is disposed of correctly. Fly-tipping is a serious offence and will not be tolerated.”

Enforcement officers discovered a lorry load of rubbish including white goods appliances, house refurbishment material, carpets and rubble after visiting the site last February.

While investigating they discovered evidence linking the rubbish to the refurbishment of a row of properties in Haslingden.

The officers visited the properties and established they were owned by Fabco Properties Ltd and managed by agents in Salford.

The companies said that they had paid a building company to refurbish the properties, and that the waste disposal was part of that job.

And while both claimed that they had used this company for other jobs previously, they were not able to confirm who had actually commissioned the works.

Fabco Properties Ltd was prosecuted under Duty of Care, Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Action 1990, for failing to ensure that the waste from these properties was disposed of properly.

Bolton Council officers worked with their counterparts in Rosendale, and Salford as well as the Environment Agency and Greater Manchester Police while investigating the case.

Three other cases were also heard in court and the offenders will have to pay a total of £1,380 for the offences.

Maria Lakatosova, aged 32, and 27-year-old Hermina Makai both dumped Christmas trees behind their homes.

Lakatosova was fined £220 with £230 costs and a £30 victim surcharge. Makai was fined £220 with £200 costs, and a £30 victim surcharge.

Stephanie Manock, aged 22, was fined £220, with £200 costs and a £30 victim surcharge for dumping waste in the back street.

All three defendants failed to attend court and were found guilty by magistrates in their absence.

To report fly-tipping go to www.bolton.gov.uk/flytipping