Man who failed to clear 19ft rubbish pile faces having assets seized
A man who failed to clear up a towering pile of rubbish in the Black Country faces having his assets seized from him following a court ruling.
Refuse Derived Fuel Ltd director Robert McNaughton served a term in jail early last year for failing to comply with a court order to clear the site in Moor Street in Brierley Hill.
But the Environment Agency continues to struggle to get the 19ft high rubbish pile cleared.
Now the agency has been granted a writ of sequestration from the High Court, allowing officials to seize assets from Mr McNaughton and the company.
The assets would then be used to clear up the site.
Harriet Templar-Vasey, spokesman for the agency, said: "We are continuing to take legal action to force Refuse Derived Fuel Limited and its director, Robert McNaughton, to clear the remaining waste from the site.
"We have recently obtained a writ of sequestration from the High Court, which is a formal order allowing High Court Enforcement Officers to seize the assets of Mr McNaughton and the company.
"Enforcement officers have visited both Mr McNaughton and the company, and are currently investigating what assets can be seized.
"It is possible that there will be further court hearings in the near future as a result of this."
The mountain of waste at the site once stood at 40ft high.
It led to people around the site demanding a clear-up five years ago.
Although some waste was then removed, the firm and Mr McNaughton failed to meet strict orders on the amount to go set by the High Court.
He was sentenced to six months in prison last year.
Last year, the Environment Agency revealed it had spent almost £80,000 on legal fees to bring action against the firm.
The agency is keen for the clear-up bill of the site not to fall on the tax payer.
