Two jailed over illegal waste storage in Skegness
Two men operating from a Skegness waste site have been jailed and a third sentenced after the Environment Agency found they were storing material illegally.
Between June 2015 and April 2017, Thomas Todd, Jamie Todd and Bryan Walker managed businesses operating from the former Bowman’s Site, in Lincolnshire near the A52.
On 8 June 2015, the site’s environmental permit was transferred to East Coast Recycling Properties Ltd. which was run by Jamie and Thomas Todd. This permit allowed for the processing of mixed waste with a view to extracting recyclable materials.
The Environment Agency began to conduct inspections at the site shortly afterwards and quickly found failings. The site’s permit required a fire prevention plan to be in place to avoid a serious blaze and protect the environment. This was especially important as the site was surrounded by arable land and the nearest residential premises were only 10m away. However, The Todd brothers failed to have such a plan in place leaving the site at risk.
Inspections found that waste was being stacked too high and too closely together, creating a fire risk. The waste had also become a health risk following an influx of mice and a problem with flies. As a result, the Environment Agency suspended the site’s permit, stopping new material from being brought in between December 2015 and February 2016.
Further visits by Environment Agency officers between March and May 2016 found that there were no firebreaks between the waste. This meant the waste stored on the site continued to present a huge fire risk. The company’s permit was suspended again in July 2016.
In July 2016, a new company Eco Green Logistics Limited registered an exemption to start waste work on another section of the Bowman’s site. Bryan Walker was the registered director of this company. He also allowed too much waste into his section of the site leading to waste being stored unsafely and presenting a fire risk.
The Todds reassured the Environment Agency that waste would no longer be brought onto Bowman’s and instead the land would be redeveloped. However, the Environment Agency continued to find evidence of new waste being brought onto the land. Also, MJT Development, another Todd company, was brought in to provide on-site security and to remove waste.
The Environmental permit for the site was revoked fully in March 2017 and the businesses were ordered to clear the site fully. The site was later searched under warrant where evidence was found to show waste moving on and off the site despite the restrictions put in place by the Environment Agency.
Both Jamie and Thomas Todd had a previous suspended prison sentence for very similar environmental offences which the judge considered when sentencing.
The 3 men appeared at Leeds Crown Court on 19 May 2023 for sentencing, having pleaded guilty at earlier hearings.
Thomas Todd, 33, of Hunt Street, Castleford pleaded guilty to 3 counts.
Jamie Todd, 42, of Wakefield Road, Drighlington, Leeds pleaded guilty to 4 counts.
Bryan Walker, 60, of Beckhill Vale, Leeds pleaded guilty to 5 counts.
Speaking at the case, Judge Batiste said that fire safeguards at the site has been “non-existent” and that the defendants had “flagrantly breached environmental law.” He added that if any part of the site had caught fire “it is highly unlikely it could have been contained.”
He said the actions of the Todd brothers had been “…so serious that only immediate custody can be justified.” He described the pair as the “leading lights” of the operation on the site.
On Bryan Walker, the judge said that his actions had been “wholly reckless.”
Thomas and Jamie Todd were both sentenced to 8 months immediate custody and were disqualified from acting as a director of a business for 5 years.
A Proceeds of Crime Act Enquiry will be carried out for the Todd brothers in due course.
Bryan Walker was given a 12-month community order with 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days. He was also disqualified from acting as a director of a business for 5 years and ordered to pay £60 as a victim surcharge.
Grantham builder must pay £82,000 after illegal asbestos removal
A Grantham builder who hid asbestos near a Welbourn school after lying to customers about his qualifications to remove it is to hand over more than £82,000 he earned from dozens of jobs.
Kent, south-east London, Surrey and Oxfordshire were among the places Lee Charles targeted with false paperwork to win high-value contracts.
Last year he was given 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. Now, a court has decided 40-year-old Charles must pay up £82,100 in a proceeds of crime order.
He used the company name Lincs Demolition Ltd for two years, claiming he was registered to remove asbestos – but he had no legal permit from the Environment Agency to do the work.
He zig-zagged England to act out his crimes as far afield as Abingdon, Walsall, Wellingborough, and Worksop, including Barton-upon-Humber, Doncaster, Grantham, Lincoln, Market Rasen, Newark, Scunthorpe, Sleaford, and Spalding.
Having duped customers, Charles stashed the waste asbestos in hired storage containers at Welbourn, 200m from a school and close to a Girl Guide centre. He told the owners of the storage space he wanted to keep tools there. When he failed to pay the rent on the containers, the owners forced the locks and were confronted with the dangerous contents.
Once exposed, Charles abandoned the storage containers, moving to an unpermitted waste site 16 miles away near Sleaford, where he continued to store asbestos unsafely, posing a risk to public health.
Paul Salter, an environmental waste crime officer for the Environment Agency, said: “Lee Charles’ crimes were not just illegal, but dangerous. He has been ordered to pay back money, and this sends out a clear message to others who flout the law that waste crime doesn’t pay.
“Not only do we use environmental law to prosecute offenders, but use proceeds of crime orders to ensure that criminals are deprived of the benefits of their illegal activity.
“The Environment Agency supports legitimate business by disrupting and stopping the criminal element, backed up by the threat of tough enforcement, as in this case.
“We continue to use intelligence-led approaches to target the most serious crimes and evaluate which interventions are most effective.
“If you see or suspect waste crime is being committed, we urge you to report it immediately to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
In March last year, Charles, of Caldicot Gardens, in Grantham, was convicted by Lincoln crown court after pleading guilty to two counts of operating a waste operation without a permit between 2017 and 2019, contrary to regulations 12, 38(1)(a) and 41(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
He also admitted two counts of keeping or disposing of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution or harm, contrary to sections 33(1)(c), 33(6) and 157(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
This week Lincoln Crown Court ordered Charles to pay £82,100 under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 following an Environment Agency investigation into the costs he avoided while working illegally.
‘All change: The Castle Line’ – major Nottingham to Lincoln rail plans revealed
Today (Thursday 25 May) marks the launch of plans to boost speeds along the Nottingham to Lincoln rail corridor.
Midlands Connect is submitting a Strategic Outline Business Case to The Department for Transport, calling for an £18m investment to improve journey times.
A report titled ‘All change: The Castle Line’, details proposals to make train travel more attractive, reduce car dependence and benefit the local economies.
Currently just 10 per cent of journeys between Nottingham and Lincoln are taken by rail, but if these plans get the go ahead, trains will increase from predominantly 50mph to 75mph throughout the route.
CEO of Midlands Connect, Maria Machancoses, said: “This is an important connection between two major urban areas, and our plans for investment represent the first step in encouraging more passengers to use the trains.
“We recognise the need to make train travel more attractive and help people transition to sustainable transport.
“Our purpose is to create a fairer, greener and stronger Midlands. Faster connections between our towns and cities will bring a boost to the area for all the residents, businesses and visitors.”
Karl McCartney, MP for Lincoln, said: “I’m pleased to see these plans being submitted, improving train travel times will inevitably benefit both Lincoln and the entire Greater Lincoln area. I look forward to seeing this scheme progress.”
The plans have been developed with the support of Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Lincolnshire County Council and the Local Enterprise Partnerships.
Network Rail and local train operator East Midlands Railway (EMR) are also key stakeholders in the process.
Midlands Connect recommends proposed milestones for work to start in April 2026, and complete in Summer 2028.
West Lindsey launches grant programme to support businesses
Businesses in West Lindsey have the opportunity to secure grants of up to £15,000 to help with diversification opportunities, improve commercial sustainability, and evolve green infrastructure.
The grant scheme covers three principal areas – capital and revenue grant provision to support business sustainability, capital grants for non-agricultural farm diversification, and capital and revenue grants for agri-tech business development.
Councillor Trevor Young, leader of West Lindsey District Council, said: “This programme will support West Lindsey businesses to take advantage of diversification opportunities, improve commercial sustainability and evolve green infrastructure. The transition to a low carbon economy and rural/green growth are reflected as key local priorities in the current West Lindsey Economic Recovery Plan and Sustainability, Climate Change and Environment Strategy.”
Sally Grindrod-Smith, Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities, said: “We are working closely with our grant administration partner NBV Enterprise Solutions Ltd, to offer grants to eligible businesses ranging from £1,000 to £15,000.
“The grants – allocated on a first come, first served basis (on receipt of an eligible Expression of Interest) are intended to be flexible in order to respond to local business needs. The Council encourage all prospective applicants to fully review grant guidance, which can be found at: UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund Business Grants | West Lindsey District Council (west-lindsey.gov.uk), prior to submitting an Expression of Interest to ensure their project is eligible for funding.”
The fund is due to close to new applicants in December next year, but may close earlier if all of the Council’s funding allocation is awarded.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and a component of its support for places across the UK. It provides £2.6 billion of capital and revenue funding for investment in local projects to be spent by March 2025.
All areas of the UK will receive an allocation from the fund. The primary goal of UKSPF is to build pride in place and increase life chances across the UK. The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) is a top-up to UKSPF, to be spent between April 2023 and March 2025.
The fund supports activities that specifically address the particular challenges rural areas face. It is capital funding only and is complementary to funding used to support rural areas under the UKSPF.
Charity Model Makers Show to support Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance and LIVES
Returning in a larger venue, Sleaford & District Model Railway Club’s Charity Model Makers Show will take place on 18 November 2023, 10:00 – 16:00.
Featuring more displays/trade support than ever before, and offering ample free parking, the event will be held at St. George’s Academy, Sleaford Road, Ruskington, NG34 9BY, in aid of Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance and LIVES.
Although the Charity Model Makers Show is being run by a model railway club, the show features all styles and genres of model making. Alongside model railways will be dollshouse, fairground, scalextric, plastic kit built, scratch built, lego, matchstick and various radio controlled models including tanks, boats and cars.
Admission is £5 for adults, while under 16s can enter the event, sponsored by B&H Models, Digitrains, Bridgman Brows, and Elaine’s Trains, for free (when accompanied by an adult).
Attend the Charity Model Makers Show to see a wealth of displays, and support Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) and LIVES.
LNAA is one of the UK’s leading Helicopter Emergency Service (HEMS) charities, bringing the equivalent of a hospital emergency department to patients at the scene, giving those with the most severe injuries and medical conditions the very best chance of survival when minutes matter.
LNAA crews are on call 24 hours of the day, 365 days of the year. The highly skilled doctors, paramedics and pilots help people across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, involved in life-threatening incidents every single day. LNAA receives no regular direct funding from the Government. It is thanks to the generosity and good will of supporters that they can provide such a critical care service.
LIVES is a vital Lincolnshire charity who attend 999 medical emergencies across the county, 365 days a year. Whether they are providing rapid first response support on their doorstep, or highly specialised medical interventions to the most seriously ill patients, they all volunteer their time for free to save lives and be there when someone is having their worst day.
Burghley calls on all woodland explorers and secret spies this May Half Term…
Calling all woodland explorers and secret spies this May Half Term…join in on all the fun whilst school is out at Burghley!
Discover the brand new Adventure Play area, Hide & Secrets, open daily, 10am to 5pm. Day Tickets & Annual Passes are available to book online today.
Spymaster’s Guide
Burghley’s Chief Spymaster Cecil the Mole has set a series of special spy missions in his clever Spymaster Guide. Grab one of these for FREE on arrival.
So much to explore
Bug houses, butterfly banks, secret tunnels, woodland play and den building provide a world of discovery that will enchant all ages.
Something for everyone
Wide pathways, sensory wall, accessible platforms in the lower levels of the towers and accessible look out points across the gorge mean everyone can come and play.
Toddler Play
Younger children will love their very own mini play tower. Featuring low level adventuring with a slide, rope bridge and balancing trail.
Refuel at The Muddy Mole
All of the play and exploring can be hungry work. When it’s time to take a rest, The Muddy Mole is the perfect spot to refuel. Grab a bite to eat and go again.
Book ahead
Slots are expected to fill up very fast as May Half Term approaches. Be sure to guarantee your place at Hide & Secrets Adventure Play in advance to avoid disappointment on the day.
Please book an arrival timeslot. You can arrive at any time during your booked timeslot. Once you enter, you’re welcome to stay as long as you wish.
History comes to life in a Beastly Boring Tour…
Join one of the fun and insightful Beastly Boring Tours during Half Term. Listen to fabulous costumed guides tell famous tales and stories you’ve never heard before about Burghley House’s history and people. This includes a free Beastly Boring Guidebook full of interesting facts and fun games to take home.
Enjoy the Parkland in the sunshine
The perfect meeting point for family picnics and idyllic strolls. Open daily and all year round. Access and car parking at no charge.
Ice cream weather
Slowly but surely, summer is on its way! Refresh and cool down with delicious ice-cream or a homemade smoothie from the pop-up Garden Shed.
University given £427,000 to help uncover the country’s past
Lincoln’s Bishop Grosseteste University has received a grant of more than £427,000 from the Arts and Humanities Research Council to invest in the university’s archaeology department.
The award was confirmed in a ministerial announcement by Science and Technology Secretary Chloe Smith. The grant is awarded to institutions that seek to upgrade facilities and enhance their capacity to contribute to the UK’s creative and cultural research economy.
BGU has used the grant to refurbish teaching rooms and the archaeology laboratory on campus. The university’s Old School House will now host the new open access Lincolnshire Culture Heritage Research Hub.
The funding has also enabled the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment to enhance the research capabilities of the department, including a 3D laser scanner and a drone fitted with a LIDAR sensor, which can produce high-resolution maps and 3D models of landscapes and historical buildings. Other new equipment such as a magnetometer and a ground penetrating radar allow archaeologists to “see” into the ground and identify what lies beneath without having to excavate.
The equipment will be used at the university’s upcoming archaeology field school, which will see excavation of the Haw Hill area of Swanpool in Lincoln, where significant archaeological findings are expected.
Dr Derwin Gregory, Archaeology Programme Leader at BGU said: “The AHRC grant has allowed us to significantly enhance our facilities and research capabilities, enabling us to provide our students with a first-class learning experience.
“The equipment purchased through this funding will also benefit the wider community of archaeology and history groups, who are encouraged to contact the department and arrange use of this sophisticated equipment for their own projects.”
The AHRC is the UK’s largest funder of research and postgraduate training in the arts and humanities. As part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), it provides funding and support to institutions in the UK. The funding programmes are designed to support research across the full range of arts and humanities subjects.
UKRI is investing £103 million to expand and upgrade the UK’s world class research infrastructure, including digital infrastructure. The investments will support the sector and ensure UK researchers have access to the best labs and equipment they need to keep producing world-class science.
UKRI International Champion Professor Christopher Smith, said: “The investments, made across the UK, will provide UK researchers with advanced equipment, facilities and technology, and help maintain the UK’s position as a leader in research and innovation.
“This support will ensure the UK is an attractive place for scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs to live, work and innovate.”
King approves nomination of new Bishop of Lincoln
The King has approved the nomination of The Rt Rev Stephen Conway, Bishop of Ely and Acting Bishop of Lincoln, for election as Bishop of Lincoln to succeed The Rt Rev Christopher Lowson following his retirement.
Stephen was educated at Keble College, Oxford, and trained for ordained ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge. He served his title at St Mary, Heworth, in the Diocese of Durham, and was ordained priest in 1987. Stephen served as Director of Ordinands from 1990 and, in 1994, he was appointed Priest in Charge, later Vicar, of St Mary, Cockerton.
From 1998, Stephen served as Bishop’s Senior Chaplain, Press Officer and Diocesan Communications Officer and, in 2002, he was appointed Archdeacon of Durham and Residentiary Canon of Durham Cathedral.
In 2006, Stephen was appointed Area Bishop of Ramsbury, in the Diocese of Salisbury and, in 2010, he took up his current role as Bishop of Ely. Additionally, Stephen was Acting Bishop of Lincoln from the beginning of 2022 until Easter 2023.
Development of Stacey West project starts at Sincil Bank
Building work has started on the Stacey West redevelopment project to create a brand new Lincoln City Foundation Skills & Education Hub as well as a number of other key infrastructure improvements to the LNER Stadium.
Funding for the £2.5 million development, which is expected to be completed in Summer 2024, has come from the Be Lincoln Town Deal, which has contributed £800k, Football Foundation, EFL Stadia Fund, Youth Investment Fund and Lincolnshire Co-operatuve as well as almost £400k from the Stacey West Investment Bond.
This multi-agency funded build will see a new two-storey extension to the existing stand providing Lincoln City Foundation with the facilities and space to expand its vital social impact work in the local community. In addition, the stadium will benefit from a new mains water supply, increased power supply and a state-of-the-art pitch irrigation recycling system. This will coincide with the club’s ongoing plans to invest in safer standing solutions in both the Stacey West stand and a section of the GBM stand.
Caroline Killeavy, Town Deal board member, said: “The Community Hub coming from the Stacey West development will be hugely beneficial for those who live in the wider county, the city and the local community in Sincil Bank.
“The Be Lincoln Town Deal is proud to support the project and we can’t wait to see works progress.”
The Stacey West stand holds a special place in the hearts of every Imps fan serving as a permanent memorial to Bill Stacey and Jim West who along with 54 Bradford City fans lost their lives in the 1985 Valley Parade tragedy. Trevor Stacey, Bill’s son, was on hand to place the first spade in the ground and mark the start of an exciting new chapter for the club.
Trevor was joined by representatives from the many grant funding agencies including Karl McCartney MP, Cllr Donald Nannestad(deputy leader of the City Council), Misha Chotai (Youth Investment Fund), Sam Turner (Lincolnshire Co-op) and Rob Bradley (Red Imps Community Trust), as well as City chief executive Liam Scully and Foundation chief executive Martin Hickerton.
Martin said: “This is a really key moment for the club, and particularly the Foundation, as we can start to see our new home truly becoming a reality. The need for our services has never been greater, and this expanded space means we can continue our growth to help those in our communities.”
Lincolnshire woman devastated when husband and stepdaughter died in Belgium crash reveals she can “finally begin to move forward” after 8-year wait for justice
A Lincolnshire woman devastated when her husband and stepdaughter died in a crash in Belgium says she can “finally begin to move forward” after a High Court judgment ended her eight-year wait for answers.
Alain Schmit was driving an Audi A6 in the Arlon area when he was involved in a collision with a Mitsubishi Evo, the driver of which was found to be speeding.
Alain, 53, and his 18-year-old daughter Amandine, who was a passenger in his car, were taken to hospital by ambulance. Both died from their injuries.
Following the collision, in February 2015, Alain’s widow Deborah Wood, 59, instructed specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help investigate what happened.
Eight years on, a judgment handed down by the High Court on Friday concluded that the driver of the Mitsubishi was also responsible for the collision, despite previous judgments in the Belgian Courts which placed all of the blame on Alain.
Deborah, from Spilsby, Lincolnshire, has revealed she can now start to move on from her “nightmare.” It comes after her legal team helped secure her a five-figure sum awarded by the court.
James Riley, the specialist international serious injury solicitor at Irwin Mitchell representing Deborah, said after the hearing: “Understandably, the past eight years have been incredibly difficult for Deborah as she attempts to come to terms with losing both her beloved husband and stepdaughter in such tragic circumstances.
“Deborah has always believed that the Mitsubishi driver’s actions that day weren’t blameless and she was determined to honour her husband’s memory by at least establishing all of the facts regarding the collision.
“We feel we put forward strong legal arguments as to why the decision of the Belgian authorities to absolve the Mitsubishi driver were wrong. While nothing can make up for what’s happened, we welcome the judgment. It finally gives Deborah the answers she’s been waiting for.
“Deborah’s story is also a stark reminder of the potential dangers on the roads and the need for everyone to take care at all times. We’ll continue to support her as she continues her attempt to come to terms with her loss.”
At the time, Deborah and Alain were living in Messancy, Belgium, having moved there in 2013. Amandine spent weekends and holidays with them.
The crash happened on Avenue de Luxembourg on 21 February 2015, whilst Alain was crossing the junction with Chemin de Dele and Birel.
The High Court judgment found that the Mitsubishi driver was travelling “well in excess of the speed limit,” doing between 65mph and 70mph in a 55mph area.
It also found that while Alain had stopped at the junction’s stop sign, he drove across a cycle lane. Had he stopped at the cycle lane, on the balance of probabilities, the Mitsubishi would have been visible to him and “the collision would have been avoided.”
However, there were findings that when the collision occurred, Alain “had not yet encroached on to the southbound carriageway.” Furthermore, at the point of collision the Mitsubishi driver “had veered to the left…into the turning lane” and had he not done that, “the collision would have been avoided.” The judgment also found that if the Mitsubishi had been travelling within the speed limit, it would have been able to stop and “the collision would have been avoided.”
As a result, it was concluded that responsibility for the crash should be apportioned on a 50/50 basis.
Deborah said: “When I arrived at the crash scene, I was speaking to Alain so I thought everything was going to be okay, but once I got to the hospital I realised the severity of the injuries he and Amandine had suffered.
“I was there with Alain’s family and Amandine’s mum, and when we were told that she hadn’t made it, I was in complete shock; I couldn’t take it in. Then to be told that Alain wasn’t going to survive and we had to say our goodbyes was incredibly traumatic. I was completely heartbroken.
“It’s taken me a long time to even begin to come to terms with what happened that day. I lost my husband and my stepdaughter, who I saw as my own daughter, in the space of a few hours.
“For the past eight years, my world has stood still while I sought the answers I needed to honour Alain and Amandine’s memories. The judgment has finally provided me with those and a sense of justice, and I’m thankful for that.
“I’d give anything to bring Alan and Amandine back, but I know that’s not possible. All I can do now is finally begin to move forward from the nightmare I’ve been living. I also hope that by sharing my story, I can urge others to stay safe on the roads. My life was completely shattered in a few seconds and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
