Key Points
- 105 Water Gardens Ltd and its director Fahad Ahmed were fined over £6,500 for repeated fly-tipping on their land at Balfour Road, Ilford.
- Despite multiple warnings, a Community Protection Notice, and three Fixed Penalty Notices, the company failed to clear rubbish and secure the land.
- Enforcement officers found dumped furniture, mattresses, luggage, and other waste creating a local eyesore.
- Fahad Ahmed did not attend the court hearing; the case proceeded in his absence, and both he and the company were found guilty.
- Redbridge Council emphasises zero tolerance for those neglecting land upkeep, reinforcing community standards and environmental responsibility.
- Residents are encouraged to report fly-tipping promptly through council portals or apps like Love Clean Streets.
- The council aims to clear reported fly-tips within 24 hours and actively pursues enforcement against offenders.
What happened at Balfour Road, Ilford regarding the flytip?
As reported by Redbridge Council on 10 September 2025, a business operating under the name 105 Water Gardens Ltd, along with its director Fahad Ahmed, aged 48, was prosecuted following repeated fly-tipping incidents on their land in Balfour Road, Ilford. The site became a dumping ground for various waste including furniture, mattresses, and luggage, left unsecured and untreated despite numerous notices.
The flytip led to public complaints, prompting the council’s enforcement officers to investigate. Their first action was to issue a formal warning demanding that the rubbish be cleared and the land secured within seven days to prevent further illegal dumping.
Why did the company fail to comply with council warnings?
Despite the initial warning, two weeks later officers returned to find the site unchanged, with rubbish still present and the land unsecured. This non-compliance prompted the council to issue a Community Protection Notice (CPN), legally obliging the company to clear and secure the land within ten days to combat anti-social behaviour linked to fly-tipping.
The company continued to neglect its responsibilities and remained in breach of the CPN. Subsequently, three Fixed Penalty Notices were issued for failure to comply, but the fines remained unpaid. This chain of failures led the council to escalate the matter to court prosecution.
What were the court proceedings and outcomes?
In the court case at Barkingside Magistrates Court on 5 August 2025, Fahad Ahmed did not attend; the case proceeded in his absence. Both 105 Water Gardens Ltd and Ahmed faced charges under Section 48(1) of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The magistrates found the charges proved against the company and its director.
Both were fined, with total court and council costs amounting to more than £6,500. The prosecution demonstrated the council’s firm stance on enforcing laws against fly-tipping and holding landowners accountable for maintaining their property.
How did Redbridge Council respond to the prosecution?
Redbridge Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, Councillor Khayer Chowdhury, expressed the council’s position: “We have zero tolerance for those who treat our borough disrespectfully, and this prosecution is testament to our commitment to holding law breakers to account for their behaviour. Everyone, including businesses with private land in the borough, have a responsibility to keep our borough tidy – it doesn’t just fall to a few of us. Redbridge is our home, and we all deserve to live in a nice, clean and tidy neighbourhood.”
Councillor Chowdhury’s statement highlights the council’s ongoing dedication to keeping Redbridge clean and safe, emphasising collective responsibility among residents and businesses alike.
What impact does fly-tipping have on Ilford and the wider community?
Fly-tipping causes significant environmental harm and blights local neighbourhoods. The dumping of waste on private land, such as the incident on Balfour Road, not only degrades the appearance of streets but also creates health and safety risks. It generates distress among residents and places a financial burden on local authorities who must remove the waste.
This case underscores the importance of proactive enforcement and community collaboration to prevent such offences and maintain public spaces.
How can residents report fly-tipping and what is the council’s response?
Redbridge Council encourages residents to report fly-tipping quickly through its online Report It service and the mobile app Love Clean Streets. Once notified, the council aims to remove all fly-tipping within 24 hours, particularly on council land or highways.
