Published: Thursday, 14th May 2026
A number of offences were detected on Tuesday when vehicles were checked as part of a multiagency operation on the outskirts of Clenchwarton.
Several notices were issued and a number of drivers were given ‘words of advice’ after the operation. One person was arrested, for an unrelated offence.
Led by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, the operation involved officers from Norfolk Police, the Environment Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
The Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Coastal, Cllr Sandra Squire, said:
“Failure to deal with waste properly is a serious issue – fly-tipping blights our countryside and damages the environment – so this is crucial work.
“Carrying out these checks helps to make sure there is a level playing field for legitimate businesses who handle waste responsibly, and that waste is taken to a legitimate disposal facility.
“The operation at Clenchwarton is just a part of the work we are doing to make sure that the environment is protected from the harm caused by the illegal dumping of waste. It is also our intention to carry out this type of multiagency approach at other sites across the borough.”
Barry Brandford, Borough Council Waste Manager, added:
“The consequences of not complying with the law can be substantial, including the seizure of vehicles used to carry waste without a licence and unlimited fines for fly-tippers.
“Registering as a waste carrier is not expensive, and not difficult: you can register on the gov.uk website and it costs less than £200. There are many good reasons to register, and none for failure to register.
“We also urge the public to make sure they only use a properly-licensed waste carrier to dispose of their rubbish – doing so gives peace of mind that waste is dealt with properly and avoids a hefty householder fine for not checking.”
The operation took place on Main Road, just to the west of the village of Clenchwarton, on Tuesday 12 May. Documents were checked for tax and insurance, and vehicles were checked to ensure they were safe. The council carried out inspections to ensure commercial waste carriers had the appropriate licence and could provide evidence of compliance with their duty of care.
The council was pleased to find that the majority of drivers and their vehicles were compliant. However, one waste carrier was given instructions to register or face prosecution. One vehicle was found not to have insurance due to a change of registration, which the company involved rectified before the vehicle was allowed to leave.
One vehicle was in a poor condition of repair and was issued with a ‘deferred prohibition’ notice by the DVSA, which means it had to be taken to a garage immediately and have a new MOT before it could be taken out on the road again. Several drivers were issued with advice.
One person, who was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped, was found to have a warrant against him for an earlier failure to appear in court and he was arrested at the scene.
Whilst undertaking its operation, the council also made the most of the opportunity to tidy up the area by carrying out a litter pick of the area.