Local business man, Mr. William Kerr, pled guilty to operating unlicensed landfill sites and was fined £1500 at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on 20 September 2001. Mr. Kerr was using two locations at a semi-derelict farm, Low Clunch, near Stewarton, for illegal landfilling operations. The prosecution was the result of a report submitted to the Procurator Fiscal by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

After a surveillance operation to find out who was depositing the waste, SEPA successfully filmed waste being deposited.

David Wilbraham, Team Leader of SEPA’s Ayrshire Team said of the case:

"Whilst most illegal activity involves people dumping waste in lay-bys and road-sides, SEPA occasionally comes across major illegal waste deposits. SEPA found that the valley of an attractive burn near Stewerton was being in-filled with waste, and that some waste was being burned regularly.

“To find out who was carrying out the dumping, SEPA carried out a surveillance operation that resulted in SEPA filming the waste being dumped. It consisted of demolition rubble, cardboard, plastic, bushes, tree prunings, and commercial waste. In all, it is believed that over 5000 tonnes were dumped.

“Some of the waste has been subsequently removed and SEPA is pressing for removal of the remainder. This successful prosecution sends the message that people dumping illegally will be caught and that SEPA will use its enforcement powers to take action against them.

“The deliberate, illegal disposal of waste is a matter that concerns everyone. If society turns a blind eye to this dumping -whether on a large scale like this, or road-side fly-tipping - then the Ayrshire countryside could become extensively polluted. SEPA needs the public and companies who are aware of illegal dumping operations and flytippers to inform us of the activity to allow us to taken action against them. “

Any incidents witnessed by the public can be reported on the free SEPA Pollution Hotline 0800 807060

ENDS