Man fined for huge pile of scrap metal

A huge pile of scrap metal was found at the site

A man has been fined thousands of pounds for illegally storing waste, including scrapped cars, at a site in Somerset.

Ivor Salter, 77, of Otterford Caravan Park in Culmhead, admitted two charges of failing to comply with notices requiring the removal of waste from his land.

He appeared at Taunton Magistrates' Court last week and was ordered to pay more than £2,680 after being fined £600 for each offence, £1,000 in costs and a victim surcharge of £480.

Chris Lawson from the Environment Agency said: "Waste exemptions have strict limits and conditions that must be complied with to protect the environment."

'Significant quanties'

Mr Lawson added: "If we issue a notice to clear waste from a site and you fail to comply, you risk prosecution, a fine and a criminal record."

The court heard the site in the Blackdown Hills did have three exemptions in place which allowed the storing of scrap metal, the storage of waste in secure containers and the storage of waste in a secure place.

One of the exceptions allowed for the treatment of certain types and quantities of scrap metal, excluding scrap vehicles at a site that must have sealed drainage to prevent liquid run off.

Yet enforcement officers who visited the site in January 2023 found end of life vehicles and parts, a significant quantity of mixed metal, electronic equipment as well as general commercial and domestic wastes and there was no sealed drainage.

Oil contamination

During previous site visits, officers had attempted to get Salter to voluntarily remove the waste and he had said he wished to do so.

After the site was not cleared officers issued Salter with notices giving him until the end of the year to do so.

In January officers went back to the site and found waste still present, including a large amount of scrap metal and vehicles, gas bottles, batteries, wood, tyres, rubble and commercial and domestic waste, some of which was in skips.

They also found a smell of oil contamination in one area.

The site has now virtually been cleared of waste.