A RINGWOOD motel company has been fined £2,700 for failing to remove potentially toxic fridges, televisions and other rubbish that had been buried at the premises.
The owner of the New Forest Motel, however, failed to appear before the New Forest Magistrates and was issued an official caution after it was revealed to the court that John Hancock, the owner, a former Army major, was too ill to fly back from Brazil where he resides on his war pension. In addition to fining the company, Matchams Lodge Ltd, an additional fine of £750 for non-compliance with the Environment Agency was also issued.
The motel had been visited by an EA officer in June 2008 who noticed the illegal dumped fridges, but was unable to reach Mr Hancock. Returning in October, the officer discovered that someone had haphazardly buried them along with some other waste. Mr Hancock later told the courts that the waste was fly-tipped, not the motel’s, and that’s why the motel staff had buried them. Upon returning in June 2009, however, the EA officer discovered more waste.
Frank Arnold, a builder from Prunus Close, told the official that he had been doing work there when Mr Hancock asked him to bury the discarded waste. In October 2009, Mr Hancock was finally arrested upon his arrival at Heathrow Airport and given bail before being ordered to interview with the EA at a later date.
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