Those storing oil 'must comply with environmental legislation'

Anyone who stores oil on their premises must ensure that they comply with the relevant environmental legislation, according to one expert.

Environment Agency officer Claire Magee said that people should take the necessary measures to keep their oil safe and promptly report spillages to the agency, whose principal aims are to protect and improve the environment and to promote sustainable development.

Her comments follow the prosecution of the owner of the E&S Fork Life Sales and Hire business, which polluted a tributary of Hammond Beck Drain in February this year.

"Oil can have serious impacts on the environment and clean-up costs can be very expensive," stated Ms Magee.

Anne-Lise McDonald, who was prosecuting, added that the impact to the local environment may have been reduced if Eric Elam had realised that the oil had got into the surface water drainage for the site.

Mr Elam claimed that an oil tank had been vandalised and that he thought his staff had cleaned up the oil.

Written by Lauren Steadman