17-Aug-2006
- On 16 August 2006 Oadby Plastics Limited, of
Elland Road, Braunstone Frith Ind. Est. Leicester
pleaded guilty at Leicester Magistrates Court
to one charge relating to polluting the Braunstone
Brook.
The charge was brought by the
Environment Agency under the Waters Resources
Act 1991. Oadby Plastics Limited was fined £2,000
and ordered to pay costs of £2,169.32
For the Environment Agency,
Patrick Howell told the court that on the 3 January
2006 Environment Agency officers inspected the
Braunstone Brook after an oily substance had been
reported on the water surface. At the scene the
officers saw an oily substance on the surface
of the water and they could smell a strong diesel
type odour around the lakes and Braunstone Brook.
On the 4 January 2006, Environment
Agency officers continued an investigation with
Severn Trent Water staff to trace the source of
the pollution. Severn Trent Water staff placed
additional anti-pollution booms and pads across
the Braunstone Brook at the outfall on Cort Crescent.
At 2.30pm, significant levels of diesel had been
collected behind the anti-pollution booms and
pads at the outfall of the Braunstone Brook. There
were also quantities of blue coloured liquid.
The result of these investigations discovered
the source of the diesel to be the premises of
Oadby Plastics Limited.
On the forecourt of Oadby Plastics
Limited, there were three large metallic manholes
leading to three chambers. These chambers were
found to contain diesel. Environment Agency officers
took a sample of the liquid in the chamber. The
results of the tests carried out on the sample
identified the liquid as diesel fuel oil.
A representative from Oadby
Plastics Limited was cautioned and interviewed
by Environment Agency officers on the 27 January
2006. The company confirmed that investigations
into the leakage of diesel from the diesel tank
had shown that there was a crack in the seal of
the tank. This crack had led to approximately
1000-1300 litres of diesel being lost from the
tank over the period since the end of November
2005.
Speaking after the case Trevor
Burton, an Environment Agency officer involved
in the investigation said; " This case is
an excellent example of why companies must routinely
monitor and check their fuel storage tanks. There
is a high risk of pollution during the installation,
decommissioning and removal of storage tank systems.
We provide pollution prevention guidance to cover
all storage tanks, including those containing
petroleum, diesel, fuel oil, aviation fuel, waste
oil, domestic heating oil and other potentially
polluting materials such as organic solvents.
These guidelines are available from our website."
In mitigation the company stated
that they had been in business for 38 years, they
employ 100 staff at their site and they hold an
Investors in People Award. The company stated
that the crack in the fuel tank was not easily
detectable and they have a rigorous health and
safety system in place at the site.
Holly Smith
