Brierley Hill waste pile is slowly shrinking - court hears (From Dudley News)

Brierley Hill waste pile is slowly shrinking - court hears

5:38pm Monday 29th October 2012 in News

ENVIRONMENT Agency bosses say there is “still a long way to go” to shrink a mammoth pile of waste in Brierley Hill that has been overshadowing homes - but progress is being made.

The mountain of rubbish at Refuse Derived Fuel Limited (RDF) in Moor Street, which stood at 40-foot earlier this year, has been cut to around 20 to 25 feet - Birmingham High Court heard on Friday (October 26).

More than 200 tonnes of waste have been removed from the site since an injunction was issued on October 19 - the court heard.

But at the latest hearing the judge extended the injunction restricting waste activity to daily deposit and processing - and ordered RDF directors Robert McNaughton and Sharon McCann to clear rubbish at the front of the site to ground level by December 7.

They were also warned the pile at the back part of the site must not exceed the heights reported to the court following an independent surveyor’s visit.

David Hudson, environment manager for the Environment Agency, said: “We’ve seen the first meaningful removal of waste from the site for a long time and that’s clearly great progress.

“We’re satisfied with the outcome, however there is still a long way to go until the levels are acceptable to us and to local residents.

“The Environment Agency remains committed to resolving this situation and I can assure everyone in Brierley Hill that we will continue to press the company to sort out the Moor Street site.”

The case will be back in court in December (10 to 12) when the Environment Agency will submit an application for a mandatory injunction requiring the company to clear the waste back to the level allowed in its permit.

The court will also consider whether the firm has breached promises made at an earlier hearing on June 18 and whether any penalties should be imposed.

The directors could face a fine, having assets seized or even a possible prison sentence.