10/06/2005 - A Buckinghamshire
car breakers yard operator was fined on 8
June after pleading guilty to operating illegally
without a waste management licence.
John Turvey, operating at Court Lane, Iver,
Buckinghamshire, pleaded guilty to illegally
operating his vehicle salvage yard and was
fined £9,000 with £2,054.50 costs.
High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court heard how
Mr Turvey had been operating an end of life
motor vehicle site since August 2003. Between
August and December that year visiting officers
explained that Mr Turvey would need to apply
for a waste management licence if he wanted
to continue to accept, treat and dismantle
motor vehicles at the site.
However, on 6 May 2004 Environment Agency
officers returned to site and found it still
operating as a breakers yard. The officers
warned Mr Turvey and his staff that they would
need to apply for an End of Life Vehicle Licence
as required under the new End of Life Vehicle
Regulations 2003, which replaced former legal
waste requirements.
Investigating officers found on 19 August
and 10 November 2004 that the site was still
operating illegally. Waste motor vehicles
were being stored on unsuitable ground, still
containing oils and other toxic materials
including battery acid.
The court heard how the potential spillage
of hazardous pollutants presents a danger
to the environment as they can leach into
the ground and potentially reach streams and
rivers which can cause severe ecological harm.
Investigating officer Peter Stark said: “We
gave Mr Turvey a number of warnings that he
was operating illegally and numerous opportunities
to get his house in order and to apply for
an End of Life Vehicle Licence. Finally ten
months after the original offence an application
was received. However his contempt for the
law as well as a complete disregard for the
threat this operation posed to the environment
left the Environment Agency no choice but
to prosecute Mr Turvey.”
“This should be a warning to all illegal
End of Life Vehicle operators that we will
work not only to protect the environment but
also to ensure legitimate businesses are not
unfairly disadvantaged.”
Mr Turvey pleaded guilty to three counts
under Section is s.33(1)(a) and was fined
£3,000 for each charge.
Companies can find out about their environmental
responsibilities by contacting the Environment
Agency on 08708 506 506. Members of the public
can report environmental incidents by contacting
0800 80 70 60.
