{"id":659,"date":"2025-08-21T08:00:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T08:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/businesssinglesmeet.com\/?p=659"},"modified":"2025-08-21T09:10:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T09:10:59","slug":"man-sentenced-for-illegal-waste-operations-that-caused-a-major-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/businesssinglesmeet.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/21\/man-sentenced-for-illegal-waste-operations-that-caused-a-major-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"Man sentenced for illegal waste operations that caused a major fire"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u00a0<\/div>\n

\"Environment<\/h4>\n

A man has been given a suspended prison sentence for the illegal operation of waste sites that led to a major fire.<\/h4>\n

In a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency, Oliver Kirkbride pleaded guilty to multiple offences relating to the illegal operation of waste sites on the Lune Industrial Estate in Lancaster.<\/p>\n

On 15 August, Kirkbride appeared at Preston Crown Court and was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also banned from being a company director for 5 years.<\/p>\n

An investigation by the Environment Agency found that Kirkbride stored thousands of tonnes of combustible waste in breach of permit conditions, with operations continuing even after a suspension notice was issued.<\/p>\n

The abandoned waste led to a major fire in December 2023, which caused significant disruption to neighbouring businesses. Firefighting and clean-up costs added up to over \u00a32 million.<\/p>\n

\n

The defendant repeatedly and deliberately ignored environmental law and defied enforcement action by continuing to breach the law with no consideration for the environment or the community of Lancaster.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The investigation found that combustible waste was stored far more than the 500-tonne, seven-day limit set in the site\u2019s environmental permit.<\/p>\n

In February 2022, the Environment Agency suspended the site\u2019s permit because of the significant fire risk, but waste imports continued until April 2022, and then under a second company until October 2022.<\/p>\n

The site\u2019s permit was revoked by the Environment Agency in November 2022.<\/p>\n

Between September 2021 and October 2022, Kirkbride, as a company director, was found to have deliberately breached environmental permit limits, operated unpermitted waste sites, repeatedly failed to comply with enforcement notices and deposited waste without the necessary authorisations.<\/p>\n

Further offences involve waste storage breaches at Unit C4 and the illegal use of Unit C3, which had no permit in place.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the sentencing, an Environment Agency spokesperson said: \u201cThe defendant repeatedly and deliberately ignored environmental law and defied enforcement action by continuing to breach the law with no consideration for the environment or the community of Lancaster.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis actions led to a major fire that ultimately caused weeks of harm and disruption to local residents and businesses. The costs of which to resolve and clear were borne by emergency services and multi-agency partners, including Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Lancaster City Council.\u201d<\/p>\n

The post Man sentenced for illegal waste operations that caused a major fire<\/a> appeared first on Circular Online<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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