Fly-tippers fined £50,000 for destroying great crested newt habitat

A civil engineering company has been fined £50,000 for illegally dumping construction waste and destroying great crested newt habitats.

Between July 2014 and October 2014, the company deposited over 5,000 tonnes of concrete, brick and soil into two land hollows at Bage Farm, Madley, Herefordshire.

The hollows were a habitat for great crested newts, a European Protect Species. Some of the newt population were disturbed, injured and killed as a result of the waste being deposited.

Under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, it is an offence to disturb the newts or to intentionally or recklessly damage or destroy their habitat.

John Jones Civil Engineering & Groundwork Ltd pleaded guilty to operating without an environmental permit, contrary to the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2018. The company was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £50,000.