THE £95,000 fine slapped on three public bodies for failing to stop illegal waste being dumped near residents is justified.

It is shameful that it took seven years for Lancashire County Council, Rossendale Council and the Environment Agency to respond to a mother’s complaint.

Mrs D had no other choice but to report them to a government ombudsman.

She had to endure from 2000-2007 thousands of tonnes of rubbish being dumped, burned and processed on farmland a few metres from her home.

According to the ombudsman she suffered extreme distress, aggravation and financial loss.

But it shouldn’t have got to that stage and her complaint should have been dealt with sooner, not left to stagnate like the very waste dumped next to her home in Bacup.

Ombudsman Ann Abraham said the three authorities failed to take urgent or robust enforcement action, despite the evidence and unacceptable activities taking place on the neighbouring farm.

All have now apologised for their lack of action.

But it’s a classic tale of too little, too late.

Let us hope they have now learnt from this costly error.