A scrapyard in Penrith which has operated unlawfully for the past 18 months has been permanently closed following court action by Eden District Council.
The scrapyard at Lakeland View, Penrith, and its owners, Karl Albert Bowman and John Joseph Bowman has been served with a Closure Order at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court after an application by the Council’s Environmental Protection team.
The Closure Order replaces the temporary Closure Notice which was served in December, takes effect immediately and means that the owners and the business are unable to collect, receive, purchase or sell scrap from this site or from anywhere else.
The Council was also awarded costs of £1500 by the court.
The owners had failed to apply for a new licence to run the site, after the old one expired in June 2018.
Eden District Council’s Principal Environmental Health Officer Sara Watson said that no application had been received, despite numerous requests to the owners.
Sara Watson said: “Allowing unlicensed scrap yards and dealers to operate has helped to feed a crime wave that has looted the UK’s railway cables, copper roofs, sculptures and anything else made of metal that can fit on the back of a wagon.”
“Since 2013, all scrap dealers, collectors and motor salvage operators must be licensed, a process which includes a criminal record check. When scrap is picked up or sold, identification of the owner must be provided and no cash must be given.”
For more information see https://www.eden.gov.uk/business-and-trade/licensing/scrap-metal-licences/ or contact the Eden District Council’s community wardens on 01768 817817.
