Councillor's son in illegal dump scam

8:42am Friday 21st September 2007

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The son of a Hounslow councillor must pay more than £50,000 after being convicted of illegally dumping waste near a motorway service station.

Director of New Bharat Skips, Tajinder Singh Dhaliwal, of Larburnum Grove, Heston, was said to have dumped more than 1,000 tons of demolition and building waste, including soil, plastic, concrete and wood on land near Heston Services without a licence.

“You said you were trying to improve the land. That was totally untrue. You are a thoroughly dishonest person."

Judge Katkhuda

Tajinder Singh Dhaliwal is the son of Labour councillor Surgit Singh Dhaliwal, who represents Hounslow Heath ward.

Coun Dhaliwal, who also lives at Laburnam Grove, declined to comment on his son's court appearance or fine.

Dhaliwal denied 16 charges of either keeping or dumping the waste between 2004 and 2006.

However, he was found guilty of 10 of the charges, five personally and five relating to the company.

After several anonymous tip offs on October 14, 2004, Environment Agency officers went to heavily littered land in Heston and found a New Bharat Skips lorry dumping waste.

Judge Katkhuda branded the Hounslow skip hire company as a sham operation as work was carried out on the pretence of improving the land.

After the hearing Christopher Lowe of the Environment Agency said: "Despite continued warnings and guidance on the right way to conduct their business, New Bharat Skips persisted in dumping waste.

"We are pleased the court took strong action today. It sends a clear message to other companies that if you fail in your responsibilities to the environment, we will prosecute you."

Appearing for sentence at Isleworth Crown Court, Dhaliwal claimed through his counsel, William Upton, that he took as little as £30,000 a year from his struggling company.

Mr Upton said it was "a running concern but it did not make a large profit. It would be insolvent by now but for loans from the family. It cannot take on any more debt. It is servicing debt and trading at the same time".

Prosecutor Patrick Maggs said: "Whenever Mr Dhaliwal was seen by Environment Agency officers he was driving either a new Mercedes or a Range Rover."

Sentencing Dhaliwal Judge Katkhuda said: "You carried on the business of keeping controlled waste and allowing controlled waste to be kept on the site on the eastbound side of the M4 near Heston Services without a licence.

"You did this because it was cheaper that way.

"You said you were trying to improve the land. That was totally untrue. You are a thoroughly dishonest person.

"There is no evidence it was dangerous and I accept there was no long-term effect on the environment. But keeping and dumping controlled waste on unlicensed land must have increased your profits and your income."

Dhaliwal was fined £25,000, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £25,000 plus cover his own legal expenses and the cost of clearing the site.

To report incidents of flytipping call the Environment Agency emergency hotline on 0800 807 060.

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