Illegal Teesside scrap site to be axed following an investigation
The Environment Agency have ordered two former directors of a liquidated Teesside company to clear their illegal scrap site of hundreds of vehicles.
On 18th September brothers Yusuf and Munir Mohammed pled guilty to two offences of operating an illegal scrap yard at Teesside Crown Court. An investigation by the Environment Agency found the site, which was known as Jap parts Ltd, was a huge fire risk.
The two brothers failed to engage with Environment Agency officers during the investigation and as a result were ordered to pay £1,591 in fines and costs, and given a remediation order to clear the premises of all remaining scrap vehicles.
‘The storage and dismantling of scrap vehicles is strictly regulated because of the pollution risks of hazardous liquid such as oil, fuel and break fluids, as well as batteries,’ said Gary Wallace, area environment manager for the Environment Agency in the North East. ‘Dismantling must be done using methods to reduce the risk to the environment, and the waste stored pending recovery or disposal. Operators must have an environmental permit to carry out these activities.’
He added: ‘This was a lengthy investigation by our officers where the defendants were non compliant and I’m pleased there is now a court order in place to ensure the clearance of the site once and for all.’
Outlining the court hearing, the Environment Agency said that the court heard that both Yusuf and Munir owned two areas of land next to each other in Stockton-on-Tees. These were situated on Britannia Road and Phoenix Sidings. Their company, Jap parts Ltd, had an environmental permit in place to run a scrap vehicle site on the Phoenix Sidings land.
‘In July 2019, Environment Agency officers attended the site after receiving reports of illegal scrap vehicle storage. The Phoenix Sidings site was full with vehicles, while the Britannia Road site, for which there was no permit, also had about 40 scrap vehicles stored on it.
‘Enquiries revealed that Jap Parts Ltd was in liquidation and had stopped trading in November 2014. The brothers had set up a new company, Jap Parts (North) Ltd, which did not have an environmental permit for activity on either site. Yusif Mohammed confirmed the new company started trading in December 2014, with the vehicle stock transferring to the new company.’
Images: the Environment Agency and Evan Demicoli
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