A Doncaster-based operator has been ordered to pay almost £25,000 after it repeatedly breached its environmental permit at its Tyne & Wear site.
Motorhog was given multiple chances to bring its site in Wallsend Road, North Shields, up to the required standards. The site was used to depollute and bale end of life vehicles, and has now been closed.
North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told that the company was issued with two enforcement notices when Environment Agency officers visited the site in December 2015. Several breaches were identified during a previous visit, but further issues were found.
Motorhog was given until 8 February 2016 to carry out maintenance on a vehicle baler so that it did not leak potentially polluting materials, and clean all spillages on site and keep a record of them. It was also given until 11 April 2016 to make sure the concrete surface where the vehicle baler operated was compliant, or move the baler to a more suitable area.
The firm failed to comply with each of the orders and, when they visited the site in March and April, Environment Agency officers found unattended spills across the site, including fluid leaking from the baler.
The company, which holds multiple O-licences for 64 vehicles and 22 trailers at sites nationwide, pleaded guilty to two of three charges on 29 November. It was fined £20,000 and must pay £4,936.88 in costs.
A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said: “I hope that Motorhog takes a long hard look at its operations across the north to ensure that all its sites are compliant and its staff are properly trained.
“The regulations exist to protect the environment and local communities from the risk of harm. Vehicles contain liquids that are harmful to the environment and they must be dealt with correctly.”
