Haulage Firm Fined Thousands Following River Weaver Spill

Mar 08,2007 00:00 by Julian

A Winsford haulage company has been fined thousands of pounds after pleading guilty to polluting the River Weaver Navigation with oil.

DJM Logistics (UK) Ltd, of Winsford Industrial Estate, Winsford, Cheshire, appeared at Northwich Magistrates Court on Friday 2nd March, 07 where they were fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £4,633.84 costs to the Environment Agency who brought the prosecution.

The oil spill was reported to the Environment Agency on 23rd September, 05 when it was discovered that approximately 5,000 metres of the River Weaver Navigation had been affected (as far downstream as Hunts Lock).

Because of the significant pollution the oil caused, British Waterways had to carry out a major clean up of the river. Public footpaths had to be temporarily closed and the river itself had to be closed to navigation for between two and three weeks. A number of swans were affected by the oil and were subsequently treated by the RSPCA.

Following investigations by the Environment Agency the origin of the oil spill was traced back to DJM Logistics (UK) Ltd. It was caused as a result of works the company had arranged to be carried out by a contractor to remove furnaces from a boiler room and which involved removal of a disused oil fuel tank.

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk