| 19/10/2005
- On the 13 October 2005 Sundorne Products (Llanidloes)
Ltd was sentenced at Welshpool Magistrates after it pleaded
guilty to three charges relating to causing polluting
matter, in this instance contaminated construction water
to enter the Nant-y-Bradnant and a tributary of the Afon
Dulas.
The charges were brought by the Environment
Agency under Section 85 of the Water Resources Act 1991.
The company was fined £33,1000 and ordered to pay
£18,090.35 costs.
Speaking after the case, Sam Morgan,
an Environment Agency officer involved in the investigation,
said: ‘It is regrettable this incident happened in the
first place. Contaminated water can have a serious impact
on the environment, affecting plant life and fish habitats.
The watercourses in this area are valuable habitats and
water quality must be maintained at all times.
‘Sundorne’s negligence seriously compromised
this quality and we had no choice but to take legal action.
It is worth pointing out that the offences sentenced today
were committed when Sundorne Products was under the ownership
of Evans Logistics.
‘Our hope is that the new owners of
Sundorne Products who took the company over after these
offences had been committed and have no responsibility
for them will be able to enter into a more constructive
relationship with the Agency than the previous owners.’
Counsel for the Environment Agency,
Martin Diggins, told the court that on 5 January 2004,
the Environment Agency received a call from a member of
the public. He complained that a watercourse running through
his garden was contaminated with grey material.
An Environment Agency officer attended
the site and the Bryn Posteg landfill and confirmed that
the contaminated water was coming from the Bryn Posteg
site. It was being caused by construction works taking
place at the time.
The Environment Agency received a
further four complaints on 7, 8 and 31 January 2004 from
three other local residents.
The company’s Waste Management Licence
for the Bryn Posteg site did not permit any discharges
of the type seen between the 6 January 2004 to 5 February
2004..
The Environment Agency had previously
corresponded with the company highlighting concerns about
the possibility of contaminated water leaving the site.
No action was taken by the company.
In passing sentence, the Bench remarked
that the fine would have been higher, £15,000 for
each charge, if it were not for the company’s guilty plea.
In mitigation, Mr Driver told the
Court that the problems were caused by an unusually prolonged
period of rainfall. |
