Community Heroes Penalized: Stoke-on-Trent Residents Fined £1,200 for Cleaning Up Local Rubbish.
By The Nexus Gazette.
11th July , 2024.
In a surprising turn of events, Veronika Mike and Zoltan Pinter, residents of Stoke-on-Trent, have been fined £1,200 by the local council for their efforts to clean up their street, which had been plagued by rubbish for years.
The couple, frustrated by the ongoing issue of waste being dumped around the designated bins and the subsequent rat infestation it attracted, decided to take matters into their own hands. They placed the accumulated rubbish into a cardboard box, hoping the local council would collect it.
However, instead of receiving gratitude for their initiative, the couple was met with fines. Mr. Pinter had filled an old cardboard box with food scraps and discarded packaging, leaving it beside the bins when they were full. Despite their well-intentioned efforts, both Veronika and Zoltan received fixed penalty notices for “failing to transfer household waste to an authorized authority.”
Their appeal against the decision was unsuccessful. Stoke-on-Trent City Council has stood firm on the fines, citing the law’s clarity on the matter. Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE stated, “Fly-tipping is an offense, and all perpetrators will face penalties, regardless of their intentions.”
The couple has expressed their frustration and disappointment. “We just wanted to clean our street, and that’s the thanks we get from the council,” Veronika remarked. To help cover the cost of the fines, they have set up a GoFundMe page, hoping to recoup some of the lost money.
The case has sparked a debate about the council’s handling of such community efforts and the rigid enforcement of anti-fly-tipping laws. Many residents have voiced their support for Veronika and Zoltan, calling for a more nuanced approach to similar situations in the future.
Resource:
1.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/07/10/couple-fined-stoke-on-trent-council-clearing-up-rubbish/
2.https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/couple-fined-1200-after-clearing-up-rubbish/ar-BB1pKhsN
3.https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1921881/stoke-council-flytipping-couple-fine