A Swindon man has been ordered to pay almost £2,000 after admitting illegally dumping green waste at a known fly-tipping hotspot near Royal Wootton Bassett.
Michael Cole, of The Crescent, Swindon, appeared before Swindon Magistrates' Court on Friday, 17th July where he pleaded guilty to fly-tipping and failing to respond to a legal notice requiring him to identify the driver of a vehicle linked to the offence.
He was ordered to pay a total of £1,928.01, covering the cost of clearing the waste, investigating the incident and bringing the prosecution.
Wiltshire Council's Environmental Enforcement Team launched an investigation after a pile of green waste was discovered on an unnamed road near Royal Wootton Bassett in December 2025. The location is a known fly-tipping hotspot and is monitored by CCTV.
The dumped waste blocked access to a field regularly used by dog walkers and other members of the public, while also restricting access for the landowner.
Council officers reviewed CCTV footage, which showed a white Ford Transit arriving at the site on November 30, 2025. The footage captured someone unloading green waste from the rear of the vehicle before driving away.
The vehicle was traced to Mr Cole.
Further enquiries linked the van to a gardening and landscaping business. Officers then served Mr Cole with a legal notice requiring him to identify the driver at the time of the offence. Despite being warned that failing to respond was a criminal offence, he did not comply.
Mr Cole later attended an interview under caution in January 2026, where he admitted depositing the green waste and said it had come from his own garden.
Wiltshire Council initially issued him with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice, giving him the opportunity to avoid prosecution. However, after the penalty remained unpaid, legal proceedings were started.
Councillor Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene, said: "Far too many people still believe that disposing of green waste in the countryside is harmless, but that simply isn't the case.
"Whether it's garden waste, household rubbish or commercial waste, fly-tipping is a criminal offence that damages the environment, detracts from the beauty of Wiltshire's rural landscapes and can encourage further dumping.
"This case demonstrates the value of our enforcement work and the role that CCTV can play in identifying offenders.
"Wiltshire's countryside is one of our greatest assets and we will continue to take robust action against anyone who chooses to damage it by dumping waste illegally."
Although often considered less harmful than other forms of waste, the council said green waste can spread invasive plant species, attract vermin, create unpleasant odours as it decomposes and block drainage ditches or nearby watercourses. It also warned that fly-tipped sites are more likely to become repeat dumping locations if incidents are not dealt with promptly.
Anyone wishing to report fly-tipping in Wiltshire can do so via Wiltshire Council's website.
