Clergyman: Three councillors support bin fine man
Last updated 13:07, Friday, 25 April 2008
A CLERGYMAN who answered the plight of a Whitehaven man fined for overfilling his bin claims he has won the support of councillors.
The Rev John Bannister has raised cash to pay Gareth Corkhill’s £225 court fine after his bin lid was raised 4in higher than it should have been.
And he says that while collecting donations, he received offers of support from three councillors from Copeland Council, the authority that brought the prosecution against the 26-year-old.
Mr Bannister, the rector of Whitehaven, reportedly said: “Since I asked people to help I have already received enough donations to pay Mr Corkhill’s fine three times over.
“I have already had three elected members of Copeland Council offer donations towards this.
“It has divided the elected members of the council. It is an issue that should be looked at properly before scapegoating starts.”
A message on Mr Bannister’s answerphone yesterday stated that enough money had been raised to pay Mr Corkhill’s fine and thanked people for their support.
On the issue of councillors supporting the campaign, a Copeland Council spokesman said it was a personal decision for each elected member.
He added: “We cannot stop them if that is what they choose to do. It is something we could not or would not stop.”
Mr Bannister has called for “solidarity and compassion” in Mr Corkhill’s case and spoken out against Copeland Council for making him a “scapegoat” – in turn giving him a criminal record.
Mr Corkhill, of The Oval, Mirehouse, was charged with overfilling his bin, which had its lid raised by 4in, in January.
He has this week spoken of his shock at the fine – considering those prosecuted for fly-tipping receive just an £80 penalty.
Copeland Council have warned that Mr Corkhill’s prosecution may not be the last of its kind brought in the district. Leader Elaine Woodburn said: “I know a lot of people will think it is harsh, but there are health and safety issues for the men who work for us and who we are responsible for.
“If we are really going to help the environment and make a difference, individuals have to understand they have a responsibility.”
She added that no-one wanted to be “heavy-handed” and that action such as this would be taken as a last resort.
If the gentleman had paid his original fine then he wouldn't have had all this publicity and he wouldn't have a criminal record.
The offence was NOT paying the fine, and NOT the fact he had overfilled.
I live in a family of four and in over 10 year of using wheelie bin and with fortnightly collections have never ever had a need to overfill it
View all comments on this article
Have your say
CPip did you have children in nappies because my daughter lived on the same estate and she had a family of four too she had big problems with fortnightly wheelie bin collections and had two infants in nappies.We had to take her rubbish off her so she wouldn't get fined! This is supposed to be a service surely we should not have to do this!!!!!!
Posted by susan on 6 May 2008 kl. 14:43