Asbestos fine

Colin Stevens, of Bridgeman Road, Penarth, pleaded guilty at Barry Magistrates' Court to disposing of bonded asbestos in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health at his business premises, known as the Spider Camp, near Atlantic Trading Estate in Sully.

Stevens was fined a total of 24,000 and ordered to pay 5,550 in prosecution costs to Environment Agency Wales who brought the case to court.

Sentencing, District Judge Richard Williams said that Stevens had "embarked on an exercise to conveniently dispose of the structure to secure financial gain."

He added that the defendant's actions were'grossly negligent' and that he had considered a custodial sentence. If evidence had been produced of any inhalation from the fire then he would have sent Stevens to Crown Court for sentencing.

Colin Stevens said he would be lodging an appeal to the High Court against the decision.

After the case John Harrison, an Agency Environment Manager, said: "This was a reckless act committed by Stevens, which placed him, his neighbours and the emergency services at significant risk. We feel the level of fine issued in this case fully reflects the seriousness of the incident."

The court heard that on October 1, 2003, the South Wales Police, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and environmental health officers from Vale of Glamorgan Council were called to a fire at a building at Hayes Road in Atlantic Trading Estate.

Stevens was present at the site and admitted responsibility for starting the fire. The fire brigade established that the building was constructed of asbestos roofing and wall cladding sheets.

The fire was producing significant smoke and it was considered that there was a risk of asbestos fibres getting into the atmosphere. The police subsequently evacuated the industrial estate and advised residents near to Barry Island to close their doors and windows.

An investigation by Environment Agency officers confirmed the presence of white asbestos.