A man from Ludgershall has been ordered to pay more than £1,500 in fines and compensation following a fly-tipping investigation into a large pile of waste dumped near Anna Valley, just outside Andover.
The case relates to an incident in June 2024, when officers from Test Valley Borough Council responded to a report of fly-tipped waste near the Old Chalk Pit on Foundary Road.
When they arrived at the site, they discovered a significant quantity of household and building waste, including:
- Vinyl flooring
- Tiles and underlay
- Carpet and polythene
- A wheelbarrow full of rubbish
- Aerosol cans and cardboard
- Packaging materials
Much of the waste had been thrown through a fence, damaging the surrounding land, which belongs to Upper Clatford Parish Council.
Investigation Leads to Ludgershall Man
Information found within the dumped materials led investigators to Darren Gladwyn, 45, of Ludgershall. He was invited to attend an interview under caution on 3 July 2024, but failed to attend. He also ignored a follow-up interview and a formal notice requiring him to assist with the investigation.
On 2 May 2025, Gladwyn appeared before Basingstoke Magistrates Court, where he was:
- Fined £293
- Ordered to pay £907 in costs
- Given a victim surcharge of £117
- Instructed to pay £270 compensation directly to Upper Clatford Parish Council to cover clean-up costs
Zero-Tolerance Approach
Councillor David Drew, portfolio holder for Recycling and Environmental Services at Test Valley Borough Council, said:
“If you receive a notice from the council requesting your assistance with a fly-tipping investigation, the easiest and best thing to do is to respond and help. If people don’t, not only does it delay the investigation and cause more work for our officers, but it could land you with a hefty fine.
“The team will always investigate incidents like this, even if it doesn’t happen on TVBC owned land. This is further proof of our commitment to the zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping in the borough, which the vast majority of the residents support.”
The case is one of several recent examples of the council’s tough stance on fly-tipping across the Andover area and beyond, reinforcing efforts to deter environmental crimes and protect public land.