Scrap cars farm breaks law again

Malcolm Grange, 58, of Bryony Road, was convicted at York Crown Court yesterday for storing more than 90 end of life vehicles (ELV) on land at Whitewall Farm, Felliscliffe, and in garages behind Westfield Nursing Home, Killinghall. In November 2008 Grange was convicted for similar offences at the same location.

Giles Bridge, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, told the court at a previous hearing that on January 15, 2009, officers searched Grange’s home address on Bryony Road, Whitewall Farm and land behind the nursing home.

They found 17 vehicles in various states of disrepair on land outside the buildings, which were suspected to be owned by Grange. At Whitewall Farm officers found over 80 vehicles outside the farm and buildings, the large majority being ELVs and beyond repair.

Steve Williamson, environmental crime officer at the Environment Agency, said: “Grange has created an eyesore for years in these areas, through the storage of scrap cars and car parts, despite being prosecuted previously for these offences. This sentence demonstrates that this level of offending will not be tolerated and should serve as a warning to anyone else who thinks deliberate abuse of the environment is acceptable. We’re taking steps to ensure that both sites will be cleared of all waste within three months.”