McLean Homes fined for Water Pollution
16 March 2000 - Ref 10/00
McLean Homes West Scotland Limited pled guilty to a charge under section 30F of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and were fined £2500 at Linlithgow Sheriff Court on 15 March 2000,. They admitted polluting the Eliburn Reservoir, Livingston in November 1998. The prosecution was the result of a report submitted to the Procurator Fiscal by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
Several complaints had been received previously about this site, that had resulted in SEPA speaking with McLean Homes about the problems and holding discussions on how best to deal with them. After receiving a further complaint in November, SEPA Officers investigated. They found an incomplete swale, which was meant to treat surface water discharging from an outfall pipe in to the Eliburn Reservoir and stop long term pollution. As a result, severely contaminated surface water was discharging directly into an unnamed tributary of the Eliburn.
Brian Healey, Pollution Prevention and Control Manager for SEPA East Region, commented:
"We are very pleased at the positive outcome of this case. Pollution of watercourses in such circumstances is a criminal offence and it is satisfying to see polluters paying the price for their negligence. SEPA prefer to work with business and industry to prevent pollution before it happens, but will not hesitate to use its legislative powers where necessary."
ENDS
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