Two Ilford homeowners fined after turning front garden into dumping ground

The duo have been fined nearly £2000 after turning their garden into a dumping ground 

Two homeowners from Ilford have been prosecuted after repeatedly failing to clear rubbish from their front garden.

Mohammad Usman Ali and Sadia Ijaz have been given nearly £2000 in fines and costs following complaints made by local residents that their front garden in Courtland Avenue was being used as a dumping ground.

The property was first visited last year by a Redbridge Council Enforcement Officer who discovered large amounts of rubbish covering the front of the house. Among the discarded items were bed bases, mattresses, cabinets, clothing, and other household waste.

After failing to make contact with the occupiers, the Enforcement Officer began an investigation leading to the identification Ali and Ijaz as the homeowners.

Both were issued with warning letters and given a deadline to remove the mountain of mess.

Bed bases, fridges and mattresses were among the items dumped

Returning to the property at a later date, the Enforcement Officer discovered the front garden still covered in rubbish, with further household items added to the pile, including fridges, freezers and plastic wrapping.

Both homeowners were issued with a legally enforceable Community Protection Notice requiring them to remove their rubbish, but further compliance checks once again revealed the rubbish largely untouched, and Ali and Ijaz were both given a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Despite being sent reminder letters the penalty notice remained unpaid, and the offenders were subsequently summonsed to court charged with failing to comply with the Community Protection Notice issued to them.

After failing to attend Barkingside Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 29 August, the case against Ali and Ijaz was heard and proved in their absence, landing them with fines as well as court and council costs, all totalling £1,905.

Redbridge Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, Cllr Khayer Chowdhury, said: “While the majority of our communities take pride in their area, there is a minority who behave in a way that brings down their neighbourhood. Nobody wants to see their street turned into an eyesore or a dumping ground, which is why we won’t hesitate to take action against those committing grime crimes in our borough.

“There are lots of ways to dispose of your waste in Redbridge, including our Bulky Waste Collection service, so there is no excuse to leave it discarded in your front garden.”

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