The blaze at Supa Skips in December 2023, caused by abandoned waste, resulted in clean-up costs exceeding £2m, the Environment Agency (EA) confirmed.

Thousands of tonnes of combustible waste were stored illegally, far exceeding the 500-tonne, seven-day limit allowed under the site's environmental permit, Preston Crown Court heard. Despite a suspension notice, operations at the Lune Industrial Estate site continued.

Oliver Kirkbride, 38, of Whitehaven, Cumbria, received a 16-month suspended sentence and was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

The EA said the site’s permit was suspended in February 2022 due to fire risks. However, waste continued to be imported until April 2022, and under a second company until October 2022. The permit was fully revoked in November 2022.

Between September 2021 and October 2022, Kirkbride was found to have deliberately breached permit limits, operated unlicensed waste sites, failed to comply with enforcement notices, and deposited waste without proper authorisations. Additional offences included storing waste unlawfully and using an unpermitted unit.

Following sentencing, an EA spokesperson said Kirkbride "repeatedly and deliberately ignored" enforcement action. "His actions led to a major fire that ultimately caused weeks of harm and disruption to local residents and businesses," the spokesperson added.

"This case demonstrates that we will continue to pursue and take robust action against anyone operating outside the law."

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