Pensioner piled his garden full of scrap cars, metal and rubbish

28 May 2024 , 10:27

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Ivor stored vehicles and parts, mixed metal and electronic equipment (Image: Environment Agency/SWNS)

A pensioner has been fined more than £1,000 after piling his garden full of scrap metal - including multiple cars.

Ivor Salter, 77, stored end-of-life vehicles and parts, mixed metal and electronic equipment, alongside general commercial and domestic wastes. Environment Agency officers visited the site at Otterford Caravan Park in Culmhead, Somerset, in January 2023. They attempted to secure voluntary removal of the waste and Salter had said he wished to clear the site.

However, this was not forthcoming, and the officers issued him notices - which gave him until the end of 2023. But, in January of this year, officers went back to the site and found waste still present, including a large amount of scrap metal and vehicles, gas bottles, batteries, wood, tyres, rubble and commercial and domestic waste, some of which was in skips.

In addition, there was a smell of oil contamination in one area. Since then, the site has virtually been cleared of waste. Last week, Taunton Magistrates' Court heard the site did have in place a T9 Waste Exemption registered in the name of Ivor Salter. This allowed for the recovery of scrap metal only. It also had an S1 exemption allowing for waste storage in secure containers and an S2 exemption allowing the securing of waste in a secure place.

Ivor Salter's scrapyard (Environment Agency/SWNS)

The T9 exemption allowed for the treatment of specified types and quantities of scrap metal, excluding scrap vehicles - at a site with sealed drainage to prevent liquid runoff. Salter admitted two charges of failing to comply with notices requiring the removal of waste from his land.

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He was fined £600 for each offence and ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a victim surcharge of £480. Chris Lawson from the Environment Agency said following the case: "Waste exemptions have strict limits and conditions that must be complied with to protect the environment. If we issue a notice to clear waste from a site and you fail to comply, you risk prosecution, a fine and a criminal record."

Rom Preston-Ellis