Newcastle second-hand tyre business boss fined £5,000 for running an illegal waste site

Benwell company PJ Tyres stored 1,500 waste tyres without a permit, Newcastle Magistrates’ Court told

The owner of a second-hand tyre business in Newcastle has been fined £5,000 for operating an illegal waste storage site in the city’s west end.

Paul John Fullen, who runs PJ Tyres in Benwell, pleaded guilty to the charge relating to 1,500 tyres when he appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court.

The 46-year-old’s Condercum Road business had no permit for the large quantities of waste tyres being stored at the site and in the surrounding industrial estate, said solicitor Chris Bunting on behalf of the Environment Agency.

The number was a potential fire hazard and risk to the environment, said the agency.

Fullen, of Mariah Street, also Benwell, was also ordered to pay more than £2,100 costs as well as a victim surcharge of £120.

He had previously appeared in court in August last year, when he was ordered to clear the site within three months.

But he failed to do so and continued to store waste tyres from November 26 until August 7 this year, the court heard.

The court also imposed an order giving him three months to lawfully dispose of tyres to keep the number under 200.

The Environment Agency’s Rachael Caldwell said after the case: “Fullen stored significant numbers of waste tyres on his land and the surrounding industrial estate illegally, creating a fire hazard.

“Those who operate illegally undermine legitimate businesses and waste crime has a detrimental impact on local communities and the environment.”

She said the site will be monitored.

Kevin Gardner of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service which helps the agency tackle the danger of illegally stored waste, added: “The storage of large quantities of waste tyres in unsuitable premises poses a significant risk to members of the public in the event of fire.

“Fires involving tyres produce vast amounts of black, billowing toxic smoke.”