Woman fined over £1,200 for dumping waste on popular dog walking route

LAUREN CARR HAS BEEN PUNISHED FOR LEAVING HER RUBBISH IN AN AREA POPULAR WITH DOG WALKERS AND RAMBLERS 15:26, 30 May 2025 A woman from Houghton-le-Spring has been fined over £1,200for

dumping a large amount of waste on a popular dog walking route. Lauren Carr, 30, of Queen Elizabeth Drive, Easington Lane, has been punished after neighbourhood wardens found the rubbish

that she had dumped on a route popular with dog walkers and ramblers in the Sherburn Hill area. A formal notice was issued to Carr by Durham County Council when evidence was found in the

waste linking her to it. She was given a date for an interview, which she failed to attend. During the hearing at Peterlee Magistrates Court, it was found that the defendant failed to take

reasonable measures in the disposal of her household waste, with the council unable to discover who carried out the fly-tip. Carr also failed to attend the hearing, where she was proven

guilty, and she was fined £180. She was also made to pay a victim surcharge of £72 and £1,015 in costs, totalling £1,267. Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s head of environment, said:

"There are so many quick and simple ways to dispose of waste, and yet time and again some people are choosing to dump rubbish in our beautiful countryside and along our walking routes.

"Most residents use the many household waste recycling centres across the county, and we’re grateful to those who do, but we are not afraid to launch legal action against those who do

not. "When it’s your waste, it’s your responsibility. Please be considerate and dispose of it correctly, instead of harming our environment and the surrounding communities."

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