IPSWICH: A builder is more than �7,000 out of pocket after illegally dumping over 1,000 tonnes of waste.Ian Burrows, of Ian Anthony Burrows Builders, appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court and pleaded guilty to operating a waste site without an environmental permit.
IPSWICH: A builder is more than �7,000 out of pocket after illegally dumping over 1,000 tonnes of waste.
Ian Burrows, of Ian Anthony Burrows Builders, appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court and pleaded guilty to operating a waste site without an environmental permit.
Burrows, 45, of Hawthorn Drive, was fined �4,691 and ordered to pay a contribution of �2,500 towards prosecution costs.
The court heard that waste dumped by Burrows at Elton Park in Hadleigh Road had raised the level of land there by two to three metres.
On August 1 2008 the Environment Agency (EA) was contacted about lorries tipping waste on the site, which was
described as being the size of two football pitches.
Anne-Lise McDonald, from the EA, said the site's owner (Burrows' father Ivan) was told it was an offence to dump there but it continued.
On August 14 EA officers reported two heaps of waste at the site, consisting of mostly soil but mixed with wire, metal, sheeting, plastic piping, guttering, cardboard, plastic packaging, timber, bricks, rubble, an electric drill, roof felt, glass, chipboard and carpet.
“They also observed that the land had been raised by up to two to three metres and trees had been pushed over,' said
Mrs McDonald.
Burrows admitted allowing 70 loads of approximately 18 tonnes each to be deposited on the site.
Investigations showed that more than 200 tonnes of waste had been dumped there by one company to settle a debt.
Burrows said he was unwilling to remove the waste as he would not be able to tell whether the waste was new or what the original level of the land was.
He said he was going to apply for an exemption but no application was received.
After the hearing EA investigating officer Katy Bray said: “This prosecution should send a message to those carrying out waste operations illegally.
“It is not acceptable to flout the law and put the environment at risk nor gain financial advantage over competitors.'
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