AN AMESBURY resident has been hit with a £1,000 fine after leaving a pile of waste on a roadside verge and claiming they planned to come back for it later.

Wiltshire Council launched an investigation after controlled waste, including wood, cardboard and metal, was discovered on a grass verge beside Boscombe Road on April 29.

Environmental enforcement officers traced the waste back to a resident, who admitted leaving the materials there after being unable to dispose of them at a household recycling centre because the appropriate containers were unavailable.

(Picture: Wiltshire Council)

The resident told officers they intended to return the waste to the recycling centre at a later date. However, the rubbish remained by the roadside for around eight days.

Council investigators also found the individual had enough space at home to store the waste safely until it could be disposed of properly.

(Picture: Wiltshire Council)

As a result, Wiltshire Council issued a £1,000 fixed penalty notice, which has since been paid in full.

Because the case was dealt with by way of an FPN rather than through the courts, the resident cannot be named.

(Picture: Wiltshire Council)

Cabinet member for highways Cllr Martin Smith said: “Decisions like leaving waste by the roadside, even with the intention of coming back for it, still amount to fly-tipping – there is no grey area.

“Once waste is left in a public place, the impact is immediate.

“Recycling centres can occasionally be busy, but that does not justify abandoning waste in public spaces.”

The council is reminding residents that waste should always be stored securely and disposed of through authorised channels.