18/02/2005 - Dewhirst
Ladiesware Limited whose registered office
is situated at Driffield, East Yorkshire pleaded
guilty to a charge of causing polluting matter
to enter controlled waters in a case brought
at Ammanford Magistrates Court yesterday (Thursday).
The Company was fined £2,000 and were
also ordered to pay £2,017 in costs
to Environment Agency Wales who brought the
prosecution. The Company had already paid
the Agency’s investigation costs of £4,059.
The Company pleaded guilty to causing fuel
oil to enter the Nant Arw and the Fferws Brook
contrary to Section 85(1) of the Water Resources
Act 1991.
The Court heard that the incident had occurred
on 2 April 2004. The collapse and rupture
of a heating oil tank at the Company’s Distribution
Centre at Capel Hendre near Ammanford led
to the release of approximately 9,000 litres
of oil, some of which entered the Nant Arw
and the Fferws Brook. Investigations by the
Environment Agency had found that the structure
on which the tank was supported was inadequate.
The stand collapsed spilling the heating oil,
which entered a surface water drain before
flowing into the streams. The Company had
told the court that investigation of the incident
and remedial work had already cost them a
sum in excess of £90,000.
Speaking after the case, Agency Environment
Officer David Ellar said: "This incident
could have been prevented if the heating oil
tank had been installed above ground in a
secure, bunded area and was also regularly
inspected and maintained. We urge all site
owners who store potentially polluting liquids
to take appropriate measures to prevent spillage
which can pollute our streams and rivers.
Guidance on preventing pollution is available
from local Environment Agency Wales offices
and the Agency's internet site. We hope that
this case will act as a reminder to businesses
of the need to ensure that pollution prevention
facilities are properly installed, maintained
and managed at all times to prevent such disastrous
and costly incidents from occurring."
