A WATFORD-BASED company and its director were fined a total of £10,000 on Tuesday, August 7, after admitting illegally storing building rubbish.

Holywell Haulage was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £433 in costs after pleading guilty to two charges relating to the unauthorised storage of waste at its site in Ascot Road, Croxley Green.

Company director, Eamon Cullen, 34, was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £430 in costs after he also admitted to the two offences on September 8, 2000 and November 21, 2000.

The case was heard at Hemel Hempstead Magistrates' Court today in a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency.

After the hearing, agency environmental protection officer, Chris Wright, said:

"We hope this sends out a clear message that the Environment Agency takes these types of offences extremely seriously.

"Companies face hefty fines if they do not speak to us and seek the proper authorisations from the Environment Agency before carrying out such processes.

"They not only operate without the necessary environmental controls but they can also undercut legitimate operators."

All operators planning to store or treat industrial waste must apply for a licence from the Environment Agency. For more details, telephone 0845 933 3111.