Llanelli shop owner fined
A Llanelli shop owner has been fined for failing to remove building materials and overflowing bins that were causing an obstruction to a rear lane.
Kuldip Singh, aged 31, who runs Lifestyle Express in Station Road, pleaded guilty to offences contrary to Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Section 137 Highways Act 1980 at Ammanford Magistrates Court.
The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The court heard that the council’s environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in the Station Road area when they saw building materials on the lane to the rear of Lifestyle Express which were causing an obstruction to traffic. The problem was further exacerbated by overflowing trade refuse bins.
The officers visited the shop and were told by an employee that some scaffolding to the front of the shop had collapsed, causing a halt to building work on the property, and resulting in the building materials being left in the lane. The officers explained it was causing an obstruction and issued a notice requiring that the building materials be removed. He assured the officers that the materials would be moved.
However, they returned to the premises several times and found no attempt had been made to remove the materials. Advice was also given about obtaining a licence to deposit building materials on the highway, but no application was ever made. The officers even met Singh at the premises to discuss the problem.
As a result, Singh was fined £150 by magistrates and ordered to pay £225 towards prosecution costs together with a £15 victim surcharge.
The council’s executive board member for the environment Councillor Philip Hughes said: “It is important that people comply when notices are issued by our environmental enforcement officers. We cannot allow people to obstruct the highway and will prosecute when necessary.
“Businesses also have a responsibility to ensure reasonable measures are taken to dispose of their waste.
“Hopefully this case will act as a warning to businesses in Carmarthenshire that we will prosecute those that break the law in this way.”
Kuldip Singh, aged 31, who runs Lifestyle Express in Station Road, pleaded guilty to offences contrary to Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Section 137 Highways Act 1980 at Ammanford Magistrates Court.
The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The court heard that the council’s environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in the Station Road area when they saw building materials on the lane to the rear of Lifestyle Express which were causing an obstruction to traffic. The problem was further exacerbated by overflowing trade refuse bins.
The officers visited the shop and were told by an employee that some scaffolding to the front of the shop had collapsed, causing a halt to building work on the property, and resulting in the building materials being left in the lane. The officers explained it was causing an obstruction and issued a notice requiring that the building materials be removed. He assured the officers that the materials would be moved.
However, they returned to the premises several times and found no attempt had been made to remove the materials. Advice was also given about obtaining a licence to deposit building materials on the highway, but no application was ever made. The officers even met Singh at the premises to discuss the problem.
As a result, Singh was fined £150 by magistrates and ordered to pay £225 towards prosecution costs together with a £15 victim surcharge.
The council’s executive board member for the environment Councillor Philip Hughes said: “It is important that people comply when notices are issued by our environmental enforcement officers. We cannot allow people to obstruct the highway and will prosecute when necessary.
“Businesses also have a responsibility to ensure reasonable measures are taken to dispose of their waste.
“Hopefully this case will act as a warning to businesses in Carmarthenshire that we will prosecute those that break the law in this way.”
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