A BUSINESSMAN who paid a ‘man with a van’ to take away a load of waste has been ordered to pay more than £2,200 for a fly-tipping offence.

The rubbish, from a shop being refurbished by Martin Moran, was illegally dumped, a court was told.

Moran, 44, of Long Lane, Hillingdon, admitted failing in his duty of care regarding waste.

On Tuesday, Uxbridge magistrates heard how a large quantity of waste, including timbers and debris from a shop front, was found dumped in woodland in Buckinghamshire last November.

It was traced to DF Pearce Butcher’s shop in Sutton Court Road, Hillingdon.

A joint investigation by officers from Hillingdon Council and Buckinghamshire County Council found that the shop was owned by Moran.

He admitted he had carried out refurbishment work and had paid a ‘man with a van’ £200 to remove the waste as he converted the former butcher’s into a new, unrelated business.

Moran failed to check the carrier was authorised to remove the waste from his premises, and also failed to prevent the waste from being fly-tipped. He was fined £250, ordered to pay £1,918 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

After the hearing, Hillingdon Council’s cabinet member for community, commerce and regeneration, Councillor Douglas Mills, said: “Fly-tipping in any form by anyone is unacceptable There are laws in place for proper waste disposal and they must be adhered to, to avoid cases like this.

“Businesses can sign up to our own waste collection, or employ a private contractor.

“Alarm bells should sound when you’re approached by anyone who does not show you the relevant credentials, or offers you a deal too good to be true.”