YEOVIL AREA NEWS: Foreman cautioned over bonfire nuisance

A SITE foreman that was working in Yeovil Marsh has been formally cautioned for causing a public nuisance and dark smoke.

Back in early May 2016, South Somerset District Council’s environmental protection team received a complaint concerning a fire on land in Yeovil Marsh which was causing a nuisance to residents.

Officers from the environmental protection team went to site immediately and found a large bonfire had been set up and was alight, causing a considerable amount of smoke which was blowing across nearby residents gardens.

There was also black smoke evident at the time, due to tyres and plastics being present in the fire.

The site foreman was immediately cautioned and admitted to setting the fire to remove vegetation but claimed to be unaware of the other materials being present.

Due to the size of the fire and the considerable amount of nuisance it would cause to nearby neighbours, the Fire Brigade were called to extinguish the fire. It was put out within two hours of the original complaint.

The site foreman attended an interview under caution on Wednesday (June 8, 2016) and admitted to causing a public nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and dark smoke under the Clean Air Act 1993.

Based upon the evidence, the co-operation and early admission of the offence, it was felt appropriate to offer a formal caution which was accepted and will be held on file and can be used if further offences are committed.

The council’s environmental health spokesman, Cllr Carol Goodall, said: “South Somerset District Council is committed to ensuring that air quality in the district is not comprised by the unlawful actions of individuals and will always take appropriate legal actions against individuals or businesses that pollute the area.”

If you are concerned about a bonfire, in particular a bonfire that is causing a nuisance or contains black smoke, please call South Somerset District Council on 01935-462462 and a member of the environmental protection team will investigate the report.

Tags:
News.