Kirklees Together

A Batley resident has learned the hard way that ignoring a fixed penalty notice from Kirklees Council can prove costly.

What started as a £300 fine for fly-tipping has escalated to a court prosecution and a total bill of £1,436 in fines, costs, and surcharges.

On 1 February 2025, Mrs Susan Wigglesworth (DOB 1 June 1960), of Victoria Street, Birstall, was caught dumping cardboard and plastic packaging from her car on Grange Road, Batley. Kirklees Council enforcement officers traced the rubbish back to the resident through address labels.

The offender had the chance to pay a £300 fixed penalty notice to avoid prosecution but failed to do so. Despite being warned of the consequences by a council officer, Mrs Wigglesworth ignored the notice and was subsequently prosecuted.

At Kirklees Magistrates’ Court on 27 August 2025, she pleaded guilty to fly-tipping under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and received a £615 fine, £575 costs, and a £246 court surcharge.

Councillor Amanda Pinnock, Cabinet Member for Communities and Environment said:

“This case is a clear warning to anyone who thinks they can ignore a fixed penalty notice. A moderate fine quickly escalated into a prosecution and costs that have quadrupled – all of which could have been avoided. Fly-tipping blights our community, harms residents’ quality of life, and puts local wildlife at risk, and we are committed to a zero-tolerance approach and will continue to take action against offenders.”

Registered waste carriers can be found by checking the online database. Fly tipping can be reported on our website.