Prison for Welsh farmwoman after she allows waste dump
January 12, 2007
A farmer who had pleaded guilty to allowing controlled waste to be deposited on her land has been sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
Shan Farr of Bwllfa Farm, Gelli, Rhondda Cynon Taf was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work under the direction of the Probation Service, to be completed within 12 months.
She was also ordered to pay costs of £2,300 to Environment Agency Wales, which brought the prosecution at Ystrad (Rhondda) Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
At the same court on 8 December 2006 Farr had entered a guilty plea to knowingly permitting the deposit of controlled waste on land at Bwllfa Farm, which did not benefit from a Waste Management Licence or any exemption.
The incident was discovered as a result of complaints from local residents, one of which described the constant arrival and departure of vehicles carrying waste materials to the site. When Agency officers visited the site on 27 April 2006 a large amount of controlled waste, was discovered.
The Chairman of the Bench said: “The fact that you retained Waste Transfer Notes showed that you were aware of their purpose and that society wants waste dealt with in a controlled manner.
“This was a blatant disregard of the regulations governing waste disposal. We have heard that the environmental impact is probably low because the waste was mainly inert.
“However there is no indication of the depth of the waste and the time it has been there.This was a large commercial operation which gave you an unfair advantage over other waste operations.”
After the case Agency investigating officer Laura Battle-Welch said: ‘ We take breaches of Environmental Legislation very seriously. The waste materials discovered at Bwllfa Farm were allegedly deposited there for the construction of a horse riding area.
“These materials were not only deposited without a Waste Management Licence but they contained a vast amount of contaminants including plastics, wood, green waste, metals and textiles, making them unsuitable for the intended purpose and posing a risk of pollution.
“Operators should be aware that a plea of ignorance is considered as no defence and the legislation is ultimately in place to protect our environment.”
Credit - Environment Times - excellent source of environmental news
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