A partnership from Pembroke Dock, trading as Haven Autobreakers, of Waterloo Industrial Estate, have lost their appeal against the amount of a recent fine they received after pleading guilty to operating a non-compliant scrapyard at Carew airfield, near Sageston.
George W. E. Jones and Jacqueline Jones had pleaded guilty on January 9 at Tenby magistrates court to operating the scrapyard on October 10, 2001, in contravention of Section 33(1)(b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA 90). Both partners were fined £2,500 and were ordered to pay a total of £1,770 in expenses to Environment Agency Wales who brought the prosecution.
At Swansea Crown court last week, Recorder Pat Harrington QC dismissed the defendants' appeal against the sentence and awarded the further £940 costs of the hearing to the Agency.
An Agency spokesperson said: "The scrapyard at Carew lies above the Milton aquifer, which is a standby source of drinking water. It is important that businesses with a potential to pollute groundwater operate to the highest standard. Although no pollution has been detected in this instance, the Agency felt that the failure to comply with the requirements of environmental regulations made legal action necessary."
Anyone who sees pollution, illegal tipping of waste, poaching, fish in distress or danger to the natural environment can contact the Agency's emergency hotline on 0800 80 70 60. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free and will be treated in the strictest confidence.