'I've stopped paying council tax over fly-tipping'

47 minutes ago

Laura CoffeyNorthamptonshire political reporter, Falcutt

Simon Harris said if the council fulfils its legal duty, he will do his

Laura Coffey/BBC A man with grey hair wearing a blue striped shirt and red jumper looking directly at the camera. He is sitting in a garden in the background are chairs, grass and buildings. — Simon Harris said if the council fulfils its legal duty, he will do his

A man said he would not pay his council tax until the local authority sorted out fly-tipping and the state of the road near him.

Simon Harris lives in the hamlet of Falcutt, near the B4525 Welsh Lane, in Northamptonshire, and claimed that a grit store there has become a "general fly-tipping area".

Harris, who stopped his direct debit for his council tax, said: "WNC [West Northamptonshire Council], in my opinion, has a legal responsibility to litter pick and maintain the road and if they fulfil their legal obligations, I'll certainly do mine."

Richard Butler, cabinet member for highways at the council, said "we would remind everyone to take their litter home with them".

A tyre, bits of plastic and cardboard were seen in a ditch beside the B4525 in South Northamptonshire

Laura Coffey/BBC A ditch showing a tyre, plastic, gas canister, plastic bags and shrubs and hedges. — A tyre, bits of plastic and cardboard were seen in a ditch beside the B4525 in South Northamptonshire

Records held by Northamptonshire Highways indicate that the ditches along the B4525 near Falcutt are the responsibility of West Northamptonshire Council.

Harris said: "I haven't ruled out serving a litter abatement order on the local authority under the Environmental Protection Act 1990."

Section 89 of the Act states that local authorities have a duty to keep land and highways clear of litter. Section 91 states a person can complain to a magistrates' court, which can order the landowner or duty body to clear it with an abatement order.

The council was asked for a comment about Harris refusing to pay council tax, but it did not respond to this point.

However, according to gov.uk, councils could take legal action in the magistrates' court over unpaid council tax, which could lead to money being taken from income such as wages or benefits.

A report by debt charity StepChange stated that four people have been sent to prison after failing to pay council tax since 2020.

Several signs at this grit store reminded drivers that there was no loading at any time

Laura Coffey/BBC A pile of grit on a verge next to a road. — Several signs at this grit store reminded drivers that there was no loading at any time

Butler added: "This area continues to be used by highways services for grit storage. Last year, we marked double yellow lines to discourage people from using it as a layby, and our enforcement teams monitor the area.

"Our waste teams pay regular visits to clear any litter from this area. Litter picking costs West Northamptonshire's taxpayers money, which could be put to better use delivering other services."

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