Tipper operator Doonin Plant loses O-licence appeal

Glasgow tipper operator Doonin Plant, which picked up fines of more than £100,000 for environmental offences, has lost an appeal against the temporary curtailment of its O-licence.

Upper Tribunal Judge Hugh Carlisle upheld the March decision of Scottish Traffic Commissioner (TC) Joan Aitken to cut the authorisation held by the Cambuslang company from 20 to five vehicles for four months.

The company received four convictions between April 2007 and October 2009 for offences under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Water Environment & Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 and Environmental Protection Act 1990.

It was ordered to pay fines totalling £102,800, one of which was a £90,000 fine for illegally disposing of materials at the Bardykes Bing site in Cambuslang between January and March 2007.

The materials included paper, wood, plastic, metal, vegetation, polystyrene, insulation material, chipboard, cardboard, roofing felt, carpeting, a ladder, a bicycle, a mattress, and a bath.

Doonin argued it had numerous waste management exemptions at Bardykes Bing and believed it had been operating within the law.

Carlisle said the TC's decision was not "disproportionate or excessive" and that the four month curtailment would begin on 1 August.