London

An Indian-origin owner of a waste treatment plant in East London has been fined for barring environment inspectors from entering the site twice unless they paid her thousands of pounds in bogus fees.

Gurjit Athwal, 51, director of Keep Green at Atcost Road in Barking, was ordered to pay a fine of 3,000 pounds, another 3,000 in cost, and a victim surcharge of 1,200 pounds.

The Barkingside magistrates’ court heard that between February 24 and April 18, 2023, Athwal intentionally obstructed Environment Agency officers in the exercise or performance of their powers or duties.

The court was told that one of the officers called Keep Green in February 2023 as the Environment Agency was concerned about the amount of waste stored at the site since the last visual check six months before. The officer wanted to check operations were within the conditions of Keep Green’s environmental permit to treat household, commercial, and industrial waste and that pollution-control measures were in place, a government release stated on Wednesday.

It said, Athwal stopped the officer from entering the premises and demanded 500 pounds and insurance documents to let her in. The officer left, having explained to Athwal why she was there, but the 51-year-old wouldn’t listen or look at the officer’s authorisation card, which listed her powers as an Environment Agency member of staff.

One of the most direct ways the Environment Agency can ensure companies like Keep Green operate without harming the environment is through inspecting waste sites and other commercial operations, Barry Russell, environment manager for the Environment Agency in north and east London, said.