The owner of land in St Paul’s Cray has been forced to pay over £1,500 in costs after ignoring a warning to tidy his garden.

A settee, washing machine and several bags of garden waste were left dumped on the privately owned land in Lullingstone Close.

Bromley Council asked the man responsible, Tomasz Kmiecik, to remove the rubbish last September before they followed up with an untidy site notice in December.

After failing to attend Bromley Magistrates’ Court to answer the charges, Kmiecik was found guilty of not complying with the notice and was hit with fines and costs totalling £1,548.

Councillor Kate Lymer, Executive Councillor for Public Protection and Enforcement said: “Landowners need to be take responsibility for clearing their land.

“Not only can it be unsightly but it can also encourage others to dump rubbish, something no one wants.

“We always give ample time for the rubbish to be cleared and in this example, virtually a year has elapsed since we became aware of the rubbish. Further action will follow if this proves necessary.”

The case was heard at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on August 15, 2018.