A waste company has been ordered to pay £10,000 with £9,000 in costs after pleading guilty to operating an illegal waste transfer station.

Feely Skip & Grab Hire of Worcester Park, Surrey, was charged after an Environment Agency (EA) investigation discovered the facility was operating without an environmental permit or exemption.

Company director David Feely had rented the land in Worcester Park for parking and storage.

However, EA officers found the area was being used as a waste transfer station for construction and demolition waste.

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Guildford Crown Court heard the site was being used to store 4,000 tonnes of construction demolition waste and at least 17 skips of builders' waste including plastic piping, carpet off cuts, wooden panels, paper and cardboard.

When interviewed, Mr Feely admitted that he intended to clear the site quicker, but the waste had got out of hand.

Alan Cansdale, EA Environment Manager, said: "The court heard today how waste crime can undermine legitimate businesses. The company took in waste inappropriately, and the site posed a risk to the local environment.

"Mr Feely was warned by his landlord on two previous occasions that he was breaking the law. In cases like this, where individuals or businesses operate illegally, the Environment Agency has no hesitation in prosecuting."

(LM)