A local resident in the town of Cadoxton, Barry in South Wales is facing a £50,000 fine and potential jail time for what council bosses are calling “fly-tipping”. Simon Martin, a 43-year-old craft beer reviewer and Youtuber, wanted to transform the disused park that had sat dormant for 15 years into a community green space and growing area.
With the help of his neighbors, he brought in soil to help plants grow and revive the once-neglected patch of land. However, council enforcement officers claim that he had no permission to repurpose the land and must remove all the soil or face consequences.
Martin, who lives directly behind the former playground, claims that he was merely trying to make a positive difference in his declining community. He stated, “I am trying to do a bit of good. I am the reverse of fly-tipping – I’m making it better.” He goes on to argue that the soil he used was no more than ten meters away from the same area, and therefore cannot be considered fly-tipping.
