THE net is closing on a suspected fly-tipper who ditched the HGV he was driving when it became stuck allegedly in the process of dumping its load.
The incident, which is believed to have taken place in the early hours of last Thursday morning, happened on land off Park Spring Road near Milefield Primary School, Grimethorpe.
After police seized the vehicle having attended the scene a notorious fly-tipping blackspot Barn-sley Council and the Environment Agency are now working together to gather evidence against the suspect.
The Chronicle can reveal a name is already known to enforcement officers, but the council has appealed to the public who may have seen the HGV around the area to come forward with any information.
Safer Neighbourhood Service manager Mark Giles said: “The land where the HGV was found had an existing fly-tip nearby and the size of the load appears it came from a similar-sized lorry.
“It appears the driver has reversed and then its tyres have slipped into a ditch, where it became stuck. The vehicle was then left and the driver was nowhere to be seen when the police arrived.
“Officers invited us down and although it’s a tricky one because the driver hasn’t technically committed an offence because the waste was still contained, it will take some explaining. Why did they reverse up and why did they leave?
“We’re working alongside the Environment Agency as they have more powers than we do and we believe this failed attempt is linked to the nearby fly-tip.”
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said that fly-tipped waste cost Barnsley Council £238,224 to clear up in 2016/17 a figure the local authority want to significantly reduce.
Fly-tipping carries a minimum £400 fine and the maximum
sentence is three years’ custody,
a significant fine, court and investigation costs and people caught
can even be disqualified from driving.
Given the location of where the HGV was found which is usually blocked off by a padlocked gate it is believed the suspect was responsible for previous incidents at the site.
“We know the name of the person believed to have been driving the vehicle and we will be interviewing the suspect in order to get an explanation,” Mark added.
“It will be a great result but as with everything it will be a long process. Unfortunately there is no CCTV in that particular area but we’re checking automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems to view the lorry’s movements.
“We would also like to appeal to the public who may know of the HGV or who saw its whereabouts before it was abandoned to contact us by emailing safer@barnsley.gov.uk.”
Sgt Richard Wilson, who oversees policing in the North East and Cudworth wards, added: “It’s under investigation but we’re hopeful we will get to the bottom of why the vehicle was at the scene in the first place and also why the driver left.
“It’s been recovered but we’re looking into other offences associated with the HGV.”
