A farmer has been fined for the second time after repeatedly ignoring a notice to clear up dumped waste on his land.
Ian Hobden was first served the notice by East Sussex County Council last year. It said as well as dumping waste, he had created a haul road and infilled a pond on the Giffords Farm, in Battle Road, Dallington.
He was first prosecuted by the council and fined £1,291.50 by Hastings Magistrates Court in July.
Last month the council took him to court again. Hobden, 67, pleaded guilty to a second charge of failing to comply with the notice, having not provided information which would help the county council decide if a breach had occurred and if any enforcement action should be taken.
This time, he was ordered to pay a total of £1,238.43 including a £576 fine, a victim surcharge totalling £230 and prosecutions costs of £423.34.
And he’s been warned that if he doesn’t co-operate with the council, he will be hauled back before the bench yet again.
Cllr Claire Dowling, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for transport and environment, said: “It’s incredibly disappointing that Mr Hobden has failed to provide the necessary information despite previous action, and forced us to take action for a second time.
“Unauthorised disposal of waste can have a harmful effect on the environment and a negative impact on communities, and it’s important the county council has the information it needs to decide on the next steps.
“I hope this latest action will encourage Mr Hobden to do everything he can to help us properly investigate the allegations.”
The council said the day before his latest appearance, Mr Hobden did provide the answer to some of the questions asked- but not all.
