27/05/2005 - White asbestos,
classed as hazardous waste because of its
carcinogenic nature, was dumped from a car
into a lay-by in Croft, Lincolnshire by
a man who denied putting it there.
Skegness magistrates found Paul Michael
Pocklington, aged 61, of Park Avenue, Skegness
guilty of unloading waste from his car into
the lay-by in Havenhouse Road and fined
him £3,000. He was also ordered to
pay £2,000 costs to the Environment
Agency.
Pocklington was spotted committing the
offence by a passing motorist who witnessed
him unloading broken fragments of asbestos
from his car, took the registration number,
typed up some notes about the incident and
then contacted the local authority.
The Environment Agency investigated and
found a pile of Chrysotile asbestos which
can cause cancer and is classed as hazardous
waste.
East Lindsey District Council had to remove
the asbestos from the site at a total cost
of £70 to the taxpayer.
Pocklington denied that: On 5 August 2004
on land off Havenhouse Road, Croft in Lincolnshire,
being a person who on that day controlled
or was in a position to control the use
of a Vauxhall Astra car, did knowingly cause
the deposit of controlled waste, namely
asbestos, when there was not in force a
waste management licence granted by the
enforcing authority pursuant to sections
35 and 36 of the Environmental Protection
Act 11000 authorising the said deposit.
Contrary to s33 (5) Environmental Protection
Act 11000.
After the hearing Environment Officer Chris
Martin said: ‘Today’s judgement should send
out a strong message that fly tipping will
not be tolerated.
‘Anyone wishing to dispose of asbestos
should contact the Environment Agency or
their local authority who can provide details
of suitably licensed sites or specialist
waste contractors who can deal with this
material.’
