Scotland's environment watchdog is reminding people that failing to comply with legislation can be a costly mistake.

The warning comes after local businessman Charles MacLennan was fined £600 for failing to clean up two sites where he was storing waste vehicles (end of life), vehicle parts and tyres without a waste management licence. He was given advice and sufficient opportunity to clear the sites, but failed to do so within the time given.

Mr MacLennan pled guilty on 1 April 2008 at Tain Sheriff Court to failure to comply with two Section 59 Notices, which were served on him by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). These required him to clear his garage site and another piece of land by 16 April 2007. Sentencing was deferred until today (14 January 2009) to allow Mr MacLennan time to clear the sites of waste.

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The matter originally came to light after SEPA officers received a complaint of waste being illegally stored at the Links Motors site, and another piece of land at Shore Road, Tain.

SEPA's Colin Craig said: "SEPA officers tried to work with Mr MacLennan to ensure both sites were cleared. Following lack of co-operation, SEPA had to take further enforcement action and serve Mr MacLennan two Notices requiring the clean up of the sites. His failure to comply with these Notices left us with no option other than to report this matter to the Procurator Fiscal.

"The Waste Management Licensing regime is a preventative, protective regime intended to ensure that appropriate permissions and controls are in place to prevent pollution. By failing to put these measures in place, Mr MacLennan was putting compliant operators at a disadvantage, and putting the environment at risk."

(GK/JM)