3 men prosecuted after they dumped tonnes of illegal waste at Buxton farm 

Three men were prosecuted for their roles in creating an illegal waste site, after the trio were found to be dumping and burning tonnes of shredded materials.

The discovery of the illegal site was made after Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service responded to reports of a tyre and waste fire at the farm in Buxton.

The reports came from concerned members of the public who spotted the trio setting alight a large amount of unregulated waste, which posed a significant health risk to those in the area. As a result of the call, officers from Derbyshire police attended and the men were arrested and later charged. The trio initially denied the charges they faced.

Officers used police powers to investigate the phones of the accused and uncovered that one of the men was saved as “Buxton tip”. After the men were arrested by officers from Derbyshire police’s Rural Crime team, a joint investigation was launched in collaboration with the Environmental Agency.

The trio then changed their pleas when they appeared at Derbyshire Magistrates Court on Thursday, December 5. The trio admitted to depositing shredded waste at Great Low Farm, between November 6 to November 9, 2020.

• Joseph Kidd, 35, of Delamere Drive, Macclesfield, was fined £830, told to pay a victim surcharge of £83 and ordered to pay costs of £8,000.
• Anthony Melland, 54, of Great Low Farm, Buxton, was fined £432, told to pay a victim surcharge of £43 and ordered to pay costs of £2,000.
• Adam Swindells, 30, of Wilbraham Road, Congleton, was fined £529, told to pay a victim surcharge of £53 and ordered to pay costs of £2,000.

Brian Jones, lead investigator for the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency takes its responsibility to protect people and the environment seriously. This site posed a significant environmental threat due to the high risk of fire and potentially significant impact to local communities and amenities.”

Andy Shaw, from Derbyshire police’s rural Crime team added: “Swindells, Kidd and Melland could have been in no doubt about their illegal activities and the potentially serious environmental and health related issues that they could have caused.

“Thankfully, members of the public phoned the fire service reporting concerns about the large blaze the trio had set – and we were able to attend and swiftly arrest them.”