Two people from Port Talbot have been convicted after Neath Port Talbot council investigators discovered a large amount of waste outside their home on Holland Street.
Council action follows attempts to contact residents
At Swansea Magistrates’ Court on 9 July, 33‑year‑old Brian Morgan and 39‑year‑old Gemma Morgan were found to have failed to comply with their duties under Section 108 of the Environment Act 1995, following an enquiry by council officers earlier this year.
Inspectors recorded items left outside the address on 19 February, including plastic storage boxes, broken plasterboard, a black bin bag and a dust sheet. Officers initially tried to speak with people at the property but were unable to make contact. Later the same day, a resident confirmed by telephone that the waste originated from the property and said it would be removed. When officers returned the following day the material was still in situ.
The couple did not engage further with the council’s investigation despite repeated contact attempts and after a fixed penalty notice had been issued. Neither defendant attended the sentencing hearing and both were dealt with in their absence.
| Defendant | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Brian Morgan | £660 fine; £264 victim surcharge; £146.25 costs |
| Gemma Morgan | £660 fine; £264 victim surcharge; £146.25 costs |
Separate investigation into waste along rural road
The council’s announcement also referenced a separate incident in the Dulais Valley, where waste was reported along roughly two miles of roadside between Crynant and Cilfrew. The initial report was made on 6 November 2025. The material recovered there included vehicle parts, oil‑soaked components, commercial waste, household items and fluorescent lighting tubes.
Following enquiries, 38‑year‑old Roger Townsend contacted investigators indicating he wished to discuss the material he had deposited and admitted to illegally depositing waste. Investigators also established he did not hold a waste carrier licence and that records checked with Natural Resources Wales showed no applicable waste exemptions for the Crynant–Cilfrew stretch.
- The Holland Street case involved domestic items such as plastic boxes and plasterboard left outside a property in Port Talbot.
- Council officers attempted to resolve the matter locally before court action; both defendants failed to co‑operate after initial contact.
- A distinct incident in the Dulais Valley saw a mixture of commercial and household waste spread along a public road; the person who came forward had no licence to transport waste.
These prosecutions underline the council’s approach to enforcing environmental regulations and tackling fly‑tipping in local communities. Residents with information about illegal dumping or who witness fly‑tipping are advised to contact Neath Port Talbot council so incidents can be investigated promptly.
