A furious mother has blasted the council for dishing out a £400 littering fine to her son after he put a cardboard box in a bonfire on Guy Fawkes night.
Neighbours watched as Rhys Porter, 25, made the apparently forbidden move in Howe Circle at Newport, Gwent.
Mr Porter had only been doing what he had in previous years but was stunned when he discovered a letter in the post weeks later demanding he explain his actions.
His enraged mum Cheryl Porter has blasted the fine he received as ‘extortionate’ and said she cannot understand how it happened.
Ms Porter explained: ‘He was given this fine for supposedly littering that day, but we’ve always had a very large, controlled bonfire in Howe Circle on Bonfire Night, and this year was no different.
‘He was sent a letter later saying he was being given that fine for “littering”.
‘But we don’t understand why this has happened this year when we’ve been doing it for almost five decades with no problem.’
According to his mother, Mr Porter was asked to fill out paperwork from the council which questioned him about the incident.
But the family claim they have not received any form of response from the council who received the notice on November 22 after it was sent out on November 18.
She said: ‘There’s been no real explanation behind this from the council. They haven’t even acknowledged the forms Rhys sent back to them, which I think is just ridiculous.’
Ms Porter added the bonfire was a regular occurrence, with her son Rhys, husband and a few other neighbours helping the council to ensure there wasn’t any toxic or dangerous items, including plastic, caught in the waste.
She said cardboard for the bonfire wrapped in a black bag which was torn open by a council worker who found a section with Rhys’ name and address.
Ms Porter explained: ‘He’s paid the fine now, but I just think it was a bit extortionate as it was only cardboard in there. It wasn’t like it was anything hazardous, or dangerous or toxic.’
She insisted her son and neighbours always liaised with the council, fire service and police about the bonfire.
The concerned mum added: ‘We always engage when they come round to check the bonfire is safe and well controlled, and this is the first time I think we’ve had a problem.’
A Newport Council spokesman stood by the charge, insisting ‘fly tipping is a serious environmental crime’.
They added: ‘Our priority is to protect the community and the environment.
‘We take a zero-tolerance approach to fly tipping and assess each case carefully and act based on the evidence collected.
‘The council can confirm that, following a thorough investigation of this fly-tipping incident, a fine of £400 was issued. This is the standard fine for fly-tipping offences in Wales, and the amount is set by Welsh government.’