By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 11:46, Saturday, 07 April 2012

A businessman has admitted breaking environmental laws after failing to remove waste vehicles and parts from a yard.

Ashley Ratcliffe, of Moorhouse Road, Carlisle, will be sentenced for two offences when he appears in court again later this month.

At Dumfries Sheriff Court this week, the 41-year-old pleaded guilty to failing to remove controlled waste from a site and keeping the waste on land without a waste management licence between September 2009 and April 2011.

The offences related to a site he operated at Kirkpatrick Fleming, near Gretna, while trading as AJR Commercials, and his failure to remove tyres, engines, metal, plastic, oil drums, gas bottles and waste carpets from there.

The case against him followed an investigation by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).

Kate Fleming, a specialist wildlife and environmental prosecutor for Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “There is a legitimate public concern about the impact of offences like this on the environment.

“Waste vehicles contain various fluids including oil, washer fluid, batteries and their fluid, coolant, power steering and brake fluid, all of which can contaminate the environment,” she added.

“The purpose of environmental regulations is to ensure that polluting componants are disposed of properly.

“Mr Ratcliffe repeatedly ignored advice and offers of assistance from SEPA. He was given ample time to bring his property into compliance with environmental laws but chose not to.”

First published at 08:58, Saturday, 07 April 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk