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Thomas Gaskin operating as TG Commercials situated in East Bramley, South Yorkshire was found guilty last week at Rotherham Magistrates Court to three charges relating to the pollution of Bramley Brook.
The charges were brought by the Environment Agency under the Water Resources Act 1991 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990. TG Commercials was fined £3,000 relating to one offence of the Water Resources Act, £12,000 for two breaches of the Environmental Protection Act and ordered to pay costs of £2,783.59.
For the Environment Agency, Sheila Lodhi told the court that TG Commercials operates a site used for the dismantling of heavy goods vehicles and the removal of polluting fluids such as engine and fuel oils. On the 8 and 9 of July 2007, the Environment Agency received four notifications of oil on the Maltby Dike.
On the 10 July 2007, the Environment Agency visited the area and found oil on the Maltby Dike 2km downstream of TG Commercials. There were also reports of wildlife covered in oil as a result of the incident. The oil was traced to Bramley Brook, downstream of TG Commercials, which flows into Maltby Dike.
Environment Agency Officers entered the site of TG Commercials and inspected the de-polluting area. This was found to be poorly maintained with pools of standing water contaminated with oil and an oil stained channel leading from the area directly to the Bramley Brook.
The Environment Agency wrote to TG Commercials on the 25 September 2007, inviting them to an interview. The company replied saying they were not responsible for the pollution, suggesting that other companies on the Hellaby Industrial Estate were to blame.
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