A WEBHEATH man was fined £650 and ordered to pay £750 costs to Redditch Council for failing to comply with a formal notice to prevent untreated sewage polluting a watercourse.

Paul Williams, of Springhill Cottages, Foxlydiate Lane, was served with a notice in April 2000 demanding he provide satisfactory drainage for the foul water from a septic tank.

Environmental health officers had found the drainage for his home and one other was inadequate but Mr Williams failed to comply with the notice in the specified time.

At Redditch Magistrates Court, Mr Williams pleaded guilty and in mitigation cited difficulties with gaining access to the septic tank and a dispute with the adjoining landowner.

Corrective work has now been done.

Environmental health officer Steve Shammon said: "The council is fully prepared to use the legal powers available to ensure that home owners undertake essential repairs to their properties particularly where failure to carry out such work can have an adverse effect on the local environment."