Director of illegal Whitworth waste companies prosecuted

Illegal waste companies that caused unacceptable risks to the environment have been sentenced in a case brought by the Environment Agency.

GPS General Property Solutions Ltd and its director Glenn Sinclair, 41, of Stacksteads, Bacup, appeared at Burnley Magistrates Court on Thursday 23 March 2023. Sinclair also appeared in court in relation to his role as a director of the dissolved G&A Autos Ltd, which ran from the same site until late 2021.

Sinclair pleaded guilty to a series of offences relating to failing to apply for permits, as required by law, and failing to comply with an enforcement notice.

Both operations were found to be accepting controlled waste onto a site in Whitworth, without first having obtained the relevant permits. An extensive investigation by the Environment Agency established that the waste included gas canisters which posed a significant risk of fire at the site.

Flies were also found to be present at the site following reports from local residents who also expressed concerns about rats, odour and noise, as a result of the illegal activities.

 

 

GPS General Property Solutions Ltd, based on rented land at Mercedes House, Shawforth, Whitworth, was ordered to pay £5,000 in fines and £8,000 costs along with a £500 victim surcharge.

Sinclair, director of both GPS General Property Solutions and the now dissolved company G&A Autos, was ordered to clear the waste and pay £1,000 costs.

Adam Daniels, a co-director of G&A Autos, previously volunteered an Enforcement Undertaking for his part in this case and has paid £100 to Rochdale Climate Change Fund.

The Enforcement Undertaking was accepted by the Environment Agency in relation to his part in the offending, as he was unaware of the full scale of the offending and its impact.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We are glad to see the outcome of this prosecution. We gave both businesses extensive advice and guidance but despite this, they continued to operate without the relevant permits and accepted further waste onto site.

“Illegal waste sites undermine legitimate businesses, undercut their prices, and blight the environment. We will continue to work tirelessly to tackle environmental crime and we are committed to ensuring that appropriate environmental standards are adhered to.

“I would urge everyone to check that a waste site is licenced before using them by checking the public register online at GOV.uk.

“If people suspect criminal activity, they should report it to our 24-hour incident hotline 0800 807060 or anonymously through CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111 and give as much detail as possible. Let’s work together to stamp out waste crime and protect our beautiful countryside.”