THE identity of who owns the fire-hit tyre recycling site in Warsop has been revealed –– after he appeared in court to face charges of failing to comply with permit conditions.
Up to 400,000 tyres went up in smoke in the devastating blaze at Robin Hood Environmental Ltd on 29th May, bringing chaos to the town and forcing some householders to be evacuated from their homes.
Since the inferno –– which took more than a week to put out –– Chad made several repeated attempts to track down the most recent owner of the Oakfield Lane site.
But on Thursday, 56-year-old Edward O'Neil appeared before Mansfield magistrates and revealed himself to be the managing director of the company.
O'Neil, of Nether Broughton, Leicestershire, - whose address had previously been given at Companies House as Rufford Avenue, Edwinstowe - faced four charges of failing to comply with permit conditions issued by the Environment Agency.
The charges relate to depositing waste without an environmental permit and without a licence on four separate periods between 30th October 2006 and 6th March 2008.
O'Neil, who did not issue a plea and had no legal representation, was given unconditional bail and will next appear at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on 29th July.
Speaking after his court appearance, O'Neil gave his reaction to the blaze –– which he says he did not find out about until the following morning.
"I think it is malicious as there are a lot of disgruntled employers around making all sorts of erroneous threats, so I am not entirely shocked by it," he said.
The company Robin Hood Environmental Ltd faced the same charges but these were withdrawn because it went into liquidation in April and is currently in the hands of liquidators Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC).
A spokesman for Price Waterhouse Coopers confirmed that Robin Hood Environmental Ltd went into compulsory liquidation on 8th April.
"Having been recently appointed as liquidators, clearly any issues surrounding permits and licences pre-date our involvement," she said.
"We are working closely with the relevant statutory authorities to support them in their enquiries and we are unable to add anything further at the moment."
The fire is still smouldering 11 days after breaking out, but it is understood that an investigation into its cause will begin this week.
The Warsop Household Waste Recycling Centre, on Oakfield Lane, will remain closed until further notice following the fire at Robin Hood Environmental Ltd.
The nearest available Household Waste Recycling Centres are at Mansfield's Kestral Park, off Hermitage Lane, and at Brailwood Road in Bilsthorpe.
