Latest news with #RichmondCouncil
The Irish Sun
08-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
I was fined £150 for putting my bins out 4 hours too EARLY before going on hol – I'll be seeing the council in court
A HOMEOWNER who returned from his honeymoon was shocked to discover he had been slapped with a £150 fine for putting his bins out too early. Leon Wright, 40, came home with wife Amy, 34, to discover an enforcement notice had been posted through his letterbox. Advertisement 5 Leon and his wife Amy were away for their honeymoon when they were fined Credit: SWNS 5 The council claims Leon broke the rules when he left his bins outside four hours early Credit: SWNS 5 Leon refuses to pay a penny of the £150 fine Credit: SWNS The couple live in a flat above a row of shops in East Twickenham, southwest London. Following council guidance the pair Their local authority, Richmond Council, says residents should not put their bags out before 8pm the night before collection. Wright admits that he put his bins out four hours early at 3:25pm but claims the fine is undeserved. Advertisement Read more in News He put his bins out at the latest possible time before leaving to Heathrow Airport. The couple then jetted off on a flight at 7:10pm for a Mr Wright said: "I only put it out a few hours before. It was the last thing I did before we left for holiday and the latest time that I could leave it out. "I came back from my honeymoon with a fixed penalty notice from Richmond council. It said that we had to pay it within ten days, but we couldn't because we weren't even there. Advertisement Most read in The Sun "It was very surprising. We had never had any problems with the "I do my best to follow the rules but it was literally just a few hours before the collection window so I never thought they would send fines straight away." Scotland's £45 Garden Waste Bin Charge Sparks Outrage Ten days later, Mr Wright claims he and his wife Amy returned home to discover the He claims the penalty is against government guidelines but the local council has "refused" to cancel it. Advertisement He said: "It says in black and white on the website that you can't issue penalties for leaving bins out a few hours early, which is exactly what they have done. "They weren't in the middle of the walkway or obstructing anyone. This is just a blatant 5 Leon and his wife honeymooned in Greece Credit: SWNS 5 The fine was waiting for the couple when they returned Credit: SWNS Advertisement "I am not paying it. This kind of thing just can't happen. It is absolutely wrong. I will "It is not the money but the principle. There is no way I am going to let them get away with it." The council fined Mr Wright under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Section 87. They have since agreed to offer Mr Wright an extended timeframe to Advertisement Mr Wright, however, is refusing to pay a single penny to the local authority. He said: "It is definitely not what you want to see when you come back from "My neighbours couldn't believe it. They were all shocked." A Spokesperson for Advertisement "To help achieve this, we encourage residents to follow the guidance on when to put "Waste should only be placed out between 8pm the night before and 6am on the day of collection. When these rules are not followed, "We understand that residents can sometimes make genuine mistakes, which is why there is a clear appeals process in place. "While we don't comment on individual cases, any new information submitted through this process will be Advertisement What is a hack for making changing the bin easier? THERE is in fact a way to make your rubbish-collecting chores far simpler - and it involves using multiple bags. Want in on the time-saving trick? Here's what you need to do. Step 1 Take out a fresh bin liner and open it up - but don't put it in your bin yet. Step 2 Take a second bin bag, place it inside the first bag and open it up - so that they're nestled inside each other. Continue to do this until 10 bags are neatly inside. Step 3 Carefully place the entire bin bag fusion inside your bin before folding the tops over the lip. The next time you fill a bag, simply lift it up out of the bin and another one will be good to go straight away. There you go! You'll never change your bin in the same way again.
Scottish Sun
08-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
I was fined £150 for putting my bins out 4 hours too EARLY before going on hol – I'll be seeing the council in court
The defiant man is refusing to pay the fine LOAD OF RUBBISH I was fined £150 for putting my bins out 4 hours too EARLY before going on hol – I'll be seeing the council in court Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HOMEOWNER who returned from his honeymoon was shocked to discover he had been slapped with a £150 fine for putting his bins out too early. Leon Wright, 40, came home with wife Amy, 34, to discover an enforcement notice had been posted through his letterbox. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Leon and his wife Amy were away for their honeymoon when they were fined Credit: SWNS 5 The council claims Leon broke the rules when he left his bins outside four hours early Credit: SWNS 5 Leon refuses to pay a penny of the £150 fine Credit: SWNS The couple live in a flat above a row of shops in East Twickenham, southwest London. Following council guidance the pair leave their bins out on the pavement in colour coded bags. Their local authority, Richmond Council, says residents should not put their bags out before 8pm the night before collection. Wright admits that he put his bins out four hours early at 3:25pm but claims the fine is undeserved. He put his bins out at the latest possible time before leaving to Heathrow Airport. The couple then jetted off on a flight at 7:10pm for a honeymoon cruise in Greece. Mr Wright said: "I only put it out a few hours before. It was the last thing I did before we left for holiday and the latest time that I could leave it out. "I came back from my honeymoon with a fixed penalty notice from Richmond council. It said that we had to pay it within ten days, but we couldn't because we weren't even there. "It was very surprising. We had never had any problems with the council before. "I do my best to follow the rules but it was literally just a few hours before the collection window so I never thought they would send fines straight away." Scotland's £45 Garden Waste Bin Charge Sparks Outrage Ten days later, Mr Wright claims he and his wife Amy returned home to discover the fine on their doorstep. He claims the penalty is against government guidelines but the local council has "refused" to cancel it. He said: "It says in black and white on the website that you can't issue penalties for leaving bins out a few hours early, which is exactly what they have done. "They weren't in the middle of the walkway or obstructing anyone. This is just a blatant cash grab to me. 5 Leon and his wife honeymooned in Greece Credit: SWNS 5 The fine was waiting for the couple when they returned Credit: SWNS "I am not paying it. This kind of thing just can't happen. It is absolutely wrong. I will take them to court if it comes to that. "It is not the money but the principle. There is no way I am going to let them get away with it." The council fined Mr Wright under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Section 87. They have since agreed to offer Mr Wright an extended timeframe to pay the fine at a discounted rate of £100. Mr Wright, however, is refusing to pay a single penny to the local authority. He said: "It is definitely not what you want to see when you come back from holiday. Especially when you are trying to do your best. "My neighbours couldn't believe it. They were all shocked." A Spokesperson for Richmond Council said: "Richmond Council is committed to keeping the borough's streets clean, safe, and accessible for everyone. "To help achieve this, we encourage residents to follow the guidance on when to put waste out for collection. "Waste should only be placed out between 8pm the night before and 6am on the day of collection. When these rules are not followed, enforcement action may be taken where appropriate. "We understand that residents can sometimes make genuine mistakes, which is why there is a clear appeals process in place. "While we don't comment on individual cases, any new information submitted through this process will be carefully considered."
The Sun
08-07-2025
- The Sun
I was fined £150 for putting my bins out 4 hours too EARLY before going on hol – I'll be seeing the council in court
A HOMEOWNER who returned from his honeymoon was shocked to discover he had been slapped with a £150 fine for putting his bins out too early. Leon Wright, 40, came home with wife Amy, 34, to discover an enforcement notice had been posted through his letterbox. 5 5 5 The couple live in a flat above a row of shops in East Twickenham, southwest London. Following council guidance the pair leave their bins out on the pavement in colour coded bags. Their local authority, Richmond Council, says residents should not put their bags out before 8pm the night before collection. Wright admits that he put his bins out four hours early at 3:25pm but claims the fine is undeserved. He put his bins out at the latest possible time before leaving to Heathrow Airport. The couple then jetted off on a flight at 7:10pm for a honeymoon cruise in Greece. Mr Wright said: "I only put it out a few hours before. It was the last thing I did before we left for holiday and the latest time that I could leave it out. "I came back from my honeymoon with a fixed penalty notice from Richmond council. It said that we had to pay it within ten days, but we couldn't because we weren't even there. "It was very surprising. We had never had any problems with the council before. "I do my best to follow the rules but it was literally just a few hours before the collection window so I never thought they would send fines straight away." Scotland's £45 Garden Waste Bin Charge Sparks Outrage Ten days later, Mr Wright claims he and his wife Amy returned home to discover the fine on their doorstep. He claims the penalty is against government guidelines but the local council has "refused" to cancel it. He said: "It says in black and white on the website that you can't issue penalties for leaving bins out a few hours early, which is exactly what they have done. "They weren't in the middle of the walkway or obstructing anyone. This is just a blatant cash grab to me. 5 5 "I am not paying it. This kind of thing just can't happen. It is absolutely wrong. I will take them to court if it comes to that. "It is not the money but the principle. There is no way I am going to let them get away with it." The council fined Mr Wright under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Section 87. They have since agreed to offer Mr Wright an extended timeframe to pay the fine at a discounted rate of £100. Mr Wright, however, is refusing to pay a single penny to the local authority. He said: "It is definitely not what you want to see when you come back from holiday. Especially when you are trying to do your best. "My neighbours couldn't believe it. They were all shocked." A Spokesperson for Richmond Council said: "Richmond Council is committed to keeping the borough's streets clean, safe, and accessible for everyone. "To help achieve this, we encourage residents to follow the guidance on when to put waste out for collection. "Waste should only be placed out between 8pm the night before and 6am on the day of collection. When these rules are not followed, enforcement action may be taken where appropriate. "We understand that residents can sometimes make genuine mistakes, which is why there is a clear appeals process in place. What is a hack for making changing the bin easier? THERE is in fact a way to make your rubbish-collecting chores far simpler - and it involves using multiple bags. Want in on the time-saving trick? Here's what you need to do. Step 1 Take out a fresh bin liner and open it up - but don't put it in your bin yet. Step 2 Take a second bin bag, place it inside the first bag and open it up - so that they're nestled inside each other. Continue to do this until 10 bags are neatly inside. Step 3 Carefully place the entire bin bag fusion inside your bin before folding the tops over the lip. The next time you fill a bag, simply lift it up out of the bin and another one will be good to go straight away. There you go! You'll never change your bin in the same way again.
Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Brit warns others as he's slapped with £150 fine after returning from holiday
Leon Wright, 40, put his rubbish out at 3.25pm - some four-and-a-half hours before the advised time - as he had no other option before he and his wife went on a cruise A man returned from his holiday to be slapped with a nasty penalty notice. Marketing worker Leon Wright, 40, returned from a honeymoon with new wife Amy, 34, only to be greeted by a penalty notice from Richmond Council stuck through their letterbox. Nestled above shops in East Twickenham, South West London, the Wrights are accustomed to ditching their waste in brightly coloured sacks on the pavement below their flat. Richmond Council rules dictate that locals should keep their refuse indoors until after 8pm the night before the bin men arrive. However, Mr Wright, who popped out his trash at 3:25pm—mere hours before jetting off for a post-nuptial getaway—deems the fine unfair, insisting necessity drove his timing. "I only put it out a few hours before. It was the last thing I did before we left for holiday and the latest time that I could leave it out," Leon said. "I came back from my honeymoon with a fixed penalty notice from Richmond council. It said that we had to pay it within ten days, but we couldn't because we weren't even there. It was very surprising. We had never had any problems with the council before. "I do my best to follow the rules, but it was literally just a few hours before the collection window so I never thought they would send fines straight away." Leon's pre-holiday rush saw him leave the bins out on May 27 before catching a 7.10pm flight from Heathrow, bound for an Athens-departing honeymoon cruise. Ten days on, Mr Wright and Amy came back from their jaunt to discover a parking fine slapped right on their doorstep. Mr Wright insists the charge goes against government guidelines and says even after he highlighted this, the council has "refused" to scrap it. "It says in black and white on the website that you can't issue penalties for leaving bins out a few hours early, which is exactly what they have done," Leon added. "They weren't in the middle of the walkway or obstructing anyone. This is just a blatant cash grab to me. I am not paying it. This kind of thing just can't happen. It is absolutely wrong. I will take them to court if it comes to that." The notice sent to him specifically mentions the offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Section 87. In a move seen as little consolation, the council offered to prolong the deadline for settling the fine to August 19, tempting Leon with a reduced fee of £100. Leon is holding firm on not paying a single penny. "It is definitely not what you want to see when you come back from holiday. Especially when you are trying to do your best. My neighbours couldn't believe it. They were all shocked," he said. A spokesperson for Richmond Council saidL "Richmond Council is committed to keeping the borough's streets clean, safe, and accessible for everyone. To help achieve this, we encourage residents to follow the guidance on when to put waste out for collection. "Waste should only be placed out between 8pm the night before and 6am on the day of collection. When these rules are not followed, enforcement action may be taken where appropriate. We understand that residents can sometimes make genuine mistakes, which is why there is a clear appeals process in place. While we don't comment on individual cases, any new information submitted through this process will be carefully considered."
Daily Record
08-07-2025
- Daily Record
Homeowner fined £150 for putting bins out too early before honeymoon
A homeowner has been slapped with a £150 fine for putting his rubbish out too early before heading on his honeymoon. Leon Wright, 40, returned from his dream post-wedding holiday with wife Amy, 34, to find an enforcement notice in the post. The newlyweds live in a flat above a row of shops, so decide to leave their rubbish out on the pavement below in colour-coded bags. As MyLondon reports, their East Twickenham flats falls under the jurisdiction of Richmond Council, who have strict guidance that residents should not put their bags out before 8pm the night before collection. While marketing manager Mr Wright admits he put his rubbish out at 3.25pm - some four-and-a-half hours before the advised time - he said the fine was unjust as he had no other option. He said: 'I only put it out a few hours before. It was the last thing I did before we left for holiday and the latest time that I could leave it out. 'I came back from my honeymoon with a fixed penalty notice from Richmond council. It said that we had to pay it within 10 days, but we couldn't because we weren't even there. 'It was very surprising. We had never had any problems with the council before. I do my best to follow the rules, but it was literally just a few hours before the collection window, so I never thought they would send fines straight away.' Mr Wright put his bins out on May 27 before leaving to get a 7.10pm flight from Heathrow Airport for the honeymoon cruise from Athens. Ten days later, he and Amy returned from the trip to find the fine on their doorstep. "Mr Wright claims the penalty is against government guidelines, but, despite pointing this out, the authority has 'refused' to cancel it. He added: 'It says in black and white on the website that you can't issue penalties for leaving bins out a few hours early, which is exactly what they have done. They weren't in the middle of the walkway or obstructing anyone. This is just a blatant cash grab to me. 'I am not paying it. This kind of thing just can't happen. It i s absolutely wrong. I will take them to court if it comes to that. 'It is not the money but the principle. There is no way I am going to let them get away with it.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The fixed penalty notice states that the homeowner "committed an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Section 87". The council has since agreed to extend the timeframe in which the fine can be paid to August 19, at the discounted rate of £100. But Mr Wright, who moved to his home in 2018, said that he wouldn't pay a penny. He said: 'It is definitely not what you want to see when you come back from holiday. Especially when you are trying to do your best. 'My neighbours couldn't believe it. They were all shocked.' Richmond Council said: "Richmond Council is committed to keeping the borough's streets clean, safe and accessible for everyone. To help achieve this, we encourage residents to follow the guidance on when to put waste out for collection. "Waste should only be placed out between 8pm the night before and 6am on the day of collection. When these rules are not followed, enforcement action may be taken where appropriate. "We understand that residents can sometimes make genuine mistakes, which is why there is a clear appeals process in place. While we don't comment on individual cases, any new information submitted through this process will be carefully considered."
