Farmer fined over south Shropshire tyre dump and incinerator
A farmer has been fined £20,000 for dumping thousands of old tyres and running an illegal incinerator on his land.
John William Roberts stockpiled up to 14,000 used tyres on his land at Sherbourne Farm in Nash, near Ludlow, and ignored an order from the Environment Agency to remove them.
Officers from the agency found the tyres on a visit to the farm after receiving a tip-off from Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service in February 2011.
They also discovered an incinerator in use and a number of vehicles and vehicle parts being stored on the farm.
Roberts, 69, admitted three charges of unauthorised waste management activities when he appeared at Telford Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
He was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £7,284 in costs and a £120 victim surcharge.
The judge also granted an order applied for by the Environment Agency for Roberts to remove the tyres within three months.
The agency had launched an investigation into Sherbourne Farm after receiving the tip-off and on May 23 2011 Roberts was served with a notice to remove the tyres from the site within an agreed timescale.
He failed to comply.
He was also served a notice to install fire breaks by June 30 2011 to reduce the risk of fire on the site while the tyres were in the process of being removed.
Again, Roberts failed to comply with the notice.
Speaking after the case, Laura Baker, a spokeswoman for the Environment Agency, said: "By not holding an environmental permit, Roberts has gained financially over other legal tyre operators and avoided legitimate costs of disposal.
"Illegal waste sites have the potential to cause serious pollution incidents or harm human health.
"This prosecution demonstrates that we take waste crime very seriously and will not hesitate to prosecute if necessary, to protect the environment and local communities."
For more information about the action the agency is taking to reduce waste crime visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk /waste crime.
Waste crime can also be reported to the Environment Agency's incident hotline by calling 0800 80 70 60. Or report information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
