Illegal waste from Radlett found at a Margate warehouse that later burned. The fire caused major disruption.
The Environment Agency spoke about the waste. Eighty-five percent came from Watford, about 80 miles away. The Watford site had permission to operate, but they should have checked waste destinations better. Some waste came from Radlett and Hampshire too.
Neighbors saw many flies back in 2017. Investigators visited Westwood Business Park and found bales of trash stacked high. Weeks leased the building at the start of the year. Then, 220 vehicles dumped waste there for three months.
Weeks hired Brookes’ company to manage the site. Weeks claimed he represented energy companies that wanted an energy-from-waste plant. Neither man had a permit to store waste. They made excuses for not clearing the space.
A fire started on September 18, 2018. Firefighters fought the fire for 25 days, but the cause is still unknown. A permit would have required a fire safety plan. Kent Environment Agency manager Matt Higginson explained this. The fire caused lots of disruption for locals.
The fire made the roads and businesses close, and a local hospital had to cancel operations. David Weeks got a suspended prison sentence. He must pay costs and a surcharge and do unpaid work.
Lee Brookes also got a suspended sentence and must do unpaid work. He also has to pay costs and a surcharge. Both admitted their companies ran an illegal waste site in Margate. Neither company is trading anymore.