A company using Green Belt land to sort and crush waste materials has been prosecuted for failing to comply with a planning enforcement notice.
Bournewood Sand and Gravel Limited admitted to using the land, a sand quarry adjacent to the Swanley By-Pass, A20, for sorting and crushing waste materials, contrary to the planning enforcement notice which had been issued in April 2003, following a previous breach of planning control. Bournewood Sand and Gravel Limited were ordered to pay a fine and costs totalling £90k, including a confiscation order following a guilty plea at Croydon Crown Court.
It was outlined that a planning investigation had started in September 2021 following safety concerns raised by Network Rail about the land levels at the site being changed, with the potential for landform slipping which could affect the railway line which is at the boundary line of the site.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Planning Enforcement Officers visited the site in October 2021 where it was evident that the screening and processing of waste materials was taking place, with evidence of recently processed waste soils and aggregates in numerous stockpiles also apparent and details also recorded by the Environment Agency. On a subsequent visit in February 2023, evidence of compost, soil mixing being processed and taken off site was also observed, as well as aggregate stockpiles.
A council spokesperson said: "It is disappointing given the planning history spanning over 2 decades, that waste was being processed at site, with the damage that this type of activity has, which is not appropriate in Green Belt. Landowners should be in no doubt that the council will take enforcement action and prosecute where there have been planning breaches, with the outcome also showing just how seriously the courts also see this type of activity.”
Visit www.bromley.gov.uk/Prosecutions for news about the most recent prosecutions and enforcement work undertaken.
Ends
Notes to editors: Bournewood Sand and Gravel Limited pleaded guilty on 23 May to failing to comply with a planning enforcement notice, contrary to Section 179(5) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The company was prosecuted at Croydon Crown Court where they were fined £10,000, issued a £30,000 confiscation order, and ordered to pay £50,000 in prosecution costs, totalling £90,000.
For media enquiries, please contact David Aderogba, Public Affairs Officer, on 020 8466 3060 or email david.aderogba@bromley.gov.uk