East Devon District Council has successfully prosecuted a businessman for burning hedging material on agricultural land at Clyst Honiton.

East Devon District Council has successfully prosecuted a businessman for burning hedging material on agricultural land at Clyst Honiton.

Mr B J Matthews pleaded not guilty to an offence of burning hedging material on agricultural land on June 19 last year and causing a statutory nuisance contrary to Section 80 (1) (4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and in breach of an Abatement Notice which had been served on him on March 2 by an EDDC environmental health officer.

Magistrates in Exeter found him to be guilty of the offence as he was in control of the land at the time and the bonfire had been lit without reasonable excuse.

Mr Matthews, proprietor of Waldrons Poplars Ltd. and Clyst Commercials Ltd., was fined �1,000 with �750 costs.