Burning waste and keeping it without permission has cost a landowner more than £3,000 in court.

Wilfred Hunt of Bisley admitted three offences before Cheltenham Magistrates after Stroud District Council brought the prosecution.

After Council Officers were told of concerns about burning of waste materials, they visited the Bisley site one evening in July 2020 and found a bonfire of waste materials emitting dark smoke on industrial or trade land.

They also discovered a large amount of controlled waste that had been imported onto the land without any environmental exemption or permit.

Cheltenham Magistrates Court heard the case on 30th June 2021 and he admitted four charges:

Emission of dark smoke from an Industrial or Trade premises under the Clean Air Act

Three charges relating to the deposition of waste without the requisite waste exemption or permit.

Mr Hunt pleaded guilty to the offences and was fined a total £3,426.85 comprising a reduced fine of £864, an £86 victim surcharge and the Council's full costs of £2,476.85.

"Burning of waste in this way is harmful to the environment and can affect people's health - particularly during a respiratory virus pandemic," said Stroud District Council Environment Committee Chair, Chloe Turner, after the hearing.

"Our Environment Protection Team will respond to reports of black smoke wherever possible, and as this case shows once again, we will take legal steps as well."