A DYFFRYN Ardudwy man has been forced to pay over £5,000 after he “blighted” the local area with waste material.

David Thomas pleaded guilty at Dolgellau Magistrates Court after being accused of depositing, storing and burning waste on land at Llwynion Fechan, Dyffryn Ardudwy.

Photos shown to the court depicted the land strewn with an assortment of rubbish of all varieties.

Although it is not against the law to hold waste material on your land, you must be registered as an official ‘waste carrier’ with Natural Resources Wales.

The charge was brought by the environmental agency.

Dylan Williams, of Natural Resources Wales, said: “Thomas imported, stored, treated and disposed of waste illegally at the site and without the required permits from us.

“He also carried waste whilst being unregistered with us as a waste carrier.

“The offence resulted in Thomas avoiding payment of £1,630 for a permit to carry out the activities and annual subsistence costs of £2,481 (the fee to register as an upper-tier waste carrier is £154 per annum).

Thomas was fined £1,250 for the offences and ordered to pay £3,653 costs and a £120 victim surcharge.