A COLNE businessman who failed to dispose of his rubbish in an appropriate manner was fined £1,959.83 by magistrates at Reedley Court.

Sadjid Patel, who owns the Colne Way Service Station, in Colne Road, pleaded guilty to both failing to make sure the waste was transferred to someone licensed to dispose of it and and failing to provide a written description of how it should be disposed of.

Julie Goulbourne, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, told how the Agency had received complaints from Lancashire Waste Services (LWS) that on July 14, 1999, waste had been fly-tipped outside their premises. LWS found various invoices which originated from the Colne service station among the waste, which included general display signs, plastic and paints.

The service station had just been taken over by 30-year-old Patel, of St Michael Street, Blackburn, and as he was cleaning out the premises a customer in a pick-up truck offered to take the waste for him in return for £5 worth of petrol.

Miss Goulbourne said Patel did not check whether he was licensed, did not know the identity of the person and was unaware of his duty to provide a written description.

Nigel Holden, defending, said: "As far as Mr Patel was concerned the waste was being taken to the public tip."

Patel was fined £500 for each charge with £959.83 costs.