News
Man jailed after failing to pay £208k fine for illegal scrap yard
A MAN has been jailed after failing to pay a fine of £208,000 for running an illegal scrap metal business in Carew.
On May 24, 2017, the court made a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act ordering George Jones to pay a sum of £208,000.
To date, no payments have been made under this order, so yesterday (Feb 15) George Jones was taken back into court for a PoCA enforcement hearing.
On the basis of this, the magistrates issued a warrant of commitment and Jones was taken into custody to serve the default sentence of 30 months.
Between June 2011 and May 2012 an investigation was carried out into the running of an illegal scrap metal business and the illegal storage of scrap metal and other waste materials on three different plots of land at Carew Airfield, Pembrokeshire.
The three sites in question are known as the Northern Yard, The Workshop Area and the Scrapyard Area.
The defendants involved in the case were:
George Jones – the legal tenant for all three plots of land since the late 1990s, although he held no environmental permit or exemptions for the period of the investigation.
Enviroventure Ltd – occupier of the Scrapyard area since its incorporation in 2002 and holders of an ELV (End of Life Vehicles) Environmental Permit for part of the scrap yard area. They also had numerous exemptions registered at the Workshop Area and the Scrapyard area. They were occupiers of the land until liquidated in December 2011.
Nenning Jones – the sole Director for Enviroventure Ltd (and son of George Jones) Said to have been in charge of operations at the Scrapyard and Northern Yard between June 1, 2011 and December, 22 2011 when the company was liquidated.
Jennifer May Frearson – sole director of GJF Recycling Ltd (partner of George Jones). The company was incorporated on August 25, 2011 and received money for scrap metal since September 2011 for the sale of scrap metal arising from the Scrapyard area in Carew. There were no environmental permits in her name or that of GJF Recycling Ltd, exemptions were registered in the name of GJF Recycling Ltd for the Scrapyard area and Workshop area in February 2012, however these exemptions were not complied with.
All admitted or were found guilty after a trial of operating a scrap metal facility without a permit, duty of care offences and failing to keep adequate records.
Environment Agency Officers carried out site visits between May and October 2011 and found numerous breaches of the ELV permit held for the Scrapyard area.
This involved the depollution of vehicles on site which did not have the required infrastructure to do so; inappropriate storage of batteries; drainage issues; areas of the site where bunding and concrete was not being maintained.
Waste materials such as tyres, waste vehicles and oil drums were also observed being stored outside of the permitted area. Numerous oil spillages were also observed on site.
Waste tyres, scrap metal and general skip waste were also stored at the Workshop and Northern Yard areas without an environmental permit and outside the terms and conditions of any registered exemptions.
Approximately £660,000 was paid in cash to Enviroventure Ltd for sale of scrap metal originating from the Scrapyard for the period when they did not hold an environmental permit or exemption to operate a general scrapyard from the site and for the sale of scrap vehicles when they were not compliant with their ELV permit.
A total of 20 charges were brought against Enviroventure Ltd and Nenning Jones combined for offences relating to operating outside the terms of an environmental permit and also operating and knowingly causing / permitting the operation of a regulated facility without the benefit of an environmental permit between 1 June, 2011 and December 31, 2011.
Following the original court case, Martyn Evans, NRW’s Head of Operations South West Wales, said: “We hope the outcome of this case will send out a positive message to the waste industry, that Natural Resources Wales supports legitimate business and will not tolerate those who seek to profit by breaking the law, risking harm to local communities or damaging the environment.
“The motivation behind the crime was financial. The site did not have the necessary permissions and consequently the infrastructure to protect the environment and it undercut legitimate permitted sites.
“Disposing of waste illegally can harm the environment and undermines businesses that invest in the required measures.
“It is essential that we take action in such cases to protect people and the environment, as well as safeguarding the market place for those operators who do comply with the law.”
News
Man remanded in custody following alleged assault in town centre
A PEMBROKE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged assault against a woman in Pembroke town centre last Thursday.
Morgan Ralph, 38, is accused of assaulting a female, occasioning her actual bodily harm during the alleged altercation on March 14.
Ralph, who appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday morning via a video link from Swansea Prison, pleaded not guilty to the offence.
His solicitor Tom Lloyd, informed magistrates that Ralph was acting in self defence during the alleged incident.
The matter was adjourned to May 23 when Ralph, of St Oswalds, Main Street, Pembroke, will be tried before Haverfordwest magistrates.
He was remanded in custody.
News
Retaining wall collapse in Haverfordwest crushes van
A RETAINING wall at Spring Gardens Lane, behind the site of the former Pembroke House Hotel in Haverfordwest, has collapsed following a period of heavy rainfall, causing damage to vehicles parked in the vicinity.
The incident has left two vans damaged, one severely.
The collapse of the wall sent debris sprawling across the car park, illustrating the force of the collapse and the substantial volume of water contributing to the structural failure.
Witnesses described hearing a loud rumbling noise before discovering the aftermath of the collapse.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
The collapse serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by heavy rainfall and the importance of maintaining and monitoring ageing infrastructure.
Business
People in Wales are worried about running out of money in retirement
FEAR of running out of money in retirement is rising among those in Wales with more than half (55%) concerned their savings will not last them through retirement, new research from Investec Wealth & Investment (UK) shows (please see the attached press release).
In general, women are more worried about running out of money compared to men. More than half (54%) of women surveyed are concerned about how long their money will last in retirement, compared to only 44% of men. Around 46% of men who are not worried about running out of money in retirement say it is because they have a final salary pension scheme – compared to just 38% of women who have this.
The study by Investec Wealth & Investment (UK), part of Rathbones Group, among people with stock market investments including pensions, paints a bleak picture – around 55% of those living in Wales are concerned they do not have enough money for retirement. This is similar to the UK average of 56%.
Women are more worried than men that they do not have enough money for retirement. Almost two thirds (61%) of women surveyed are concerned, with 18% of these very concerned they do not have enough money for retirement. This compares to just over half (53%) of men surveyed, with 14% of these very concerned they do not have enough money for retirement.
The Investec Wealth & Investment (UK) study shows that those living in Wales who have yet to retire are realistic about what will happen to their incomes in retirement – 64% expect their monthly incomes to drop on retirement and 36% did not know.
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