Two contractors have been prosecuted after more than 11,000 litres of diesel polluted groundwater during a hospital redevelopment project in Dorset.

Kier Construction Limited and its sub-contractor BKP Waste Recycling Limited were sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on 12 January after previously pleading guilty for causing groundwater activity under regulation 38 (1) (a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. Kier was fined £100,000 with £30,301 in costs, while BKP was fined £10,200 with 42,851 in costs.

-- Advertisement --

The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had commissioned Kier to carry out redevelopment works at Christchurch Hospital in February 2012. Kier then appointed BKP to drain and remove oil from an oil supply line in the hospital grounds.

However, oil escaped from a poorly-made connection in the oil supply pipework, which failed during routine testing of heating systems at the hospital in November 2014. The spillage polluted groundwater.

Ian Withers of the Environment Agency said: "This pollution incident had the potential to cause serious harm to the environment and was entirely avoidable.

"The 2 companies failed to understand the extent of the work required and mitigate the risks. Construction companies must adhere to environmental permitting regulations to prevent their activities from affecting the local environment."

(LM)