A Uttoxeter man, and a Stafford business have denied multiple offences of fly-tipping in Watery Lane, Lichfield.
Darren Sheen, aged 40, and Fusion Engineering (Staffordshire) Limited appeared at Stafford Crown Court today, Wednesday 6 August, where they pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. *
A pile of waste, which was more than 20 metres in length, two metres in height and weighed in excess of 27 tonnes, was fly-tipped on January 20, 2025, blocking the lane and restricting access for residents and businesses.
Lichfield District Council cleared the waste by lunchtime the following day, Tuesday 21 January, at a cost of £10,000.
Environmental Health officers launched an investigation and on 21 March 2025 seized a lorry believed to have been used in the incident.
Sheen, of Grange Road Uttoxeter, and Fusion Engineering (Staffordshire) Limited were prosecuted and will face trial in March 2027.
The Leader of Lichfield District Council, Councillor Doug Pullen, said:
“The defendant has appeared at Crown Court and pleaded not guilty to all the charges related to fly-tipping in Watery Lane.
“We are disappointed that due to the backlog in the court system the trial will not be held until 2027 but I have every confidence in our Environmental Health team and we will continue to take a zero tolerance approach to fly-tipping in Lichfield District whenever it takes place.”
* The charges are as follows:
Individual
1. On or around Sunday 19th January 2025 at approximately 2300hrs you did deposit or knowingly cause controlled waste to be deposited on land at Watery Lane in Lichfield without an environment permit authorising its deposit being in force and disposed of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health. Contrary to s.33(1)(a) & (c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
2. On or around Sunday 19th January at approximately 2300hrs, you drove a mechanically propelled vehicle dangerously on a road at Watery Lane in Lichfield. Contrary to s.2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
3. On or around Sunday 19th January 2025 at approximately 2300hrs, without lawful authority or excuse, you wilfully obstructed the free passage along a highway at Watery Lane in Lichfield for approximately 38 hours. Contrary to s.137(1) Highways Act 1980.
4. On or around Sunday 19th January 2025 at approximately 2300hrs you failed to comply with your duty as a person who carries, keep, treats or disposes of controlled waste to take all such measures applicable as are reasonable in the circumstances to prevent a contravention of section 33 and to prevent the escape of the waste from your control by depositing the waste at Watery Lane in Lichfield. Contrary to s.34(1)(b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
5. On or around Sunday 19th January 2025 at approximately 2300hrs at Watery Lane in Lichfield you failed to comply with your duty as a person who carries and disposes of controlled waste to take all such measures applicable as are reasonable in the circumstances to secure that on the transfer of the waste, that the transfer is only to an authorised person by depositing the same on a road namely Watery Lane, Lichfield. Contrary to s.34(1)(c)(i) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Limited Company
1. On or around Sunday 19th January 2025 at approximately 2300hrs the Defendant, did deposit controlled waste or knowingly permitted controlled waste to be deposited on land at Watery Lane in Lichfield without an environment permit authorising its deposit being in force and did dispose of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution or harm to the environment or harm to human health. Contrary to s.33(1)(a) & (c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
2. On or around Sunday 19th January 2025 at approximately 2300hrs the Defendant, failed to comply with the duty of any person who imports, produces, carries, keeps, treats, or disposes of controlled waste to take all such measures applicable to them in that capacity as are reasonable in the circumstances to prevent the contravention of section 33 and to prevent the escape of the waste from their control at Watery Lane in Lichfield. Contrary to s.34(1)(b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
3. On or around Sunday 19th January 2025 at approximately 2300hrs at Watery Lane in Lichfield the Defendant, failed to comply with its duty as a person who carries and disposes of controlled waste to take all such measures applicable in that capacity as are reasonable in the circumstances to secure that on the transfer of the waste, that the transfer is only to an authorised person. Contrary to s.34(1)(a)&(c)&(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990
4. On or around Sunday 19th January 2025 at approximately 2300hrs, without lawful authority or excuse, you wilfully obstructed the free passage along a highway at Watery Lane in Lichfield for approximately 38 hours. Contrary to s.137(1) Highways Act 1980