A TYRE company director pleaded guilty to a charge that he “kept controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution or harm to human health” at a Bradford site.
Stuart Bedford admitted a number of charges relating to a tyre storage site at Spring Mill Street, a former go-kart track on the edge of Bradford city centre, and a site in Doncaster when he appeared at Bradford Crown Court this morning.
On 16 November 2020, a fire began on the Spring Mill Street site that saw thousands of tyres burn for days.
At its height, up to 100 firefighters were at the scene and it took a week before it was fully extinguished.
In court today a number of charges were put against Mr Bedford, 62, of Fairfax Avenue, Harrogate, and the company he has been director of since February 2021 – Rotherham-based Equalityre.
Bedford pleaded guilty to
- Operating an unauthorised regulated facility at Spring Mill Street between 11 May 2020 and 8 April 2021.
- Keeping controlled waste, namely tyres, in a manner likely to cause pollution to the environment or harm to human health at Spring Mill Street, Bradford between 11 May 2020 and 8 April 2021
- Operating an unauthorised regulated facility at Wright Business Park in Doncaster between 31 July 2019 and 21 April 2021
- Keeping controlled waste, namely tyres, in a manner likely to cause pollution to the environment at Wright Business Park, Doncaster between 31 July 2019 and 21 April 2021
He pleaded guilty to the same charges on behalf of Equalityre.
He and Equalityre pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the failure to produce documents when asked.
Barristers representing the Environment Agency said they would not be pursuing the charges Bedford and Equalityre pleaded not guilty to, and asked that the charges lie on file.
The case was adjourned until 9 February, and Bedford was given bail until that date.
Bedford’s co-accused, Vicky Bedford, 51, of Fairgrey Close, Ripon, has been charged with similar offences but will make her pleas in February.
He was the director of Equalityre until February 2021.
As part of the same investigation, Licensed Tyre Disposals of Shipley has been charged with handling controlled waste without taking reasonable measures to prevent the unauthorised or harmful deposition, treatment or disposal of waste between 11 May 2020 and 18 July 2020.
The company will make its plea at the February hearing.
