Campsite Owner Prosecuted

Campsite owners in Powys who fail to comply with their licencing conditions could face prosecution, the county council has warned. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The warning has been issued by Powys County Council’s Environmental Health Service after it successfully prosecuted a south Powys campsite owner who failed to comply with conditions attached to her touring caravans licence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ms Barbara Lewthwaite of Hollybush Campsite, Hay-on-Wye pleaded guilty to three charges under Caravan Sites Control and Development Act 1960, Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court on Thursday 25 July. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Magistrates heard that Ms Lewthwaite, who holds a licence for touring caravans with the council, failed to comply with the conditions attached to her licence continuously despite informal requests from environmental health officers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Magistrates also heard that the electrical supply to the site was found to be unsatisfactory and Ms Lewthwaite failed to comply with an improvement notice served by the environmental health officer requiring improvements to the provisions. The condition of the electrical supply further deteriorated to the point where environmental health officers had to cut the supply to the site to make it safe and prevent any one being harmed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ms Lewthwaite was found guilty and sentenced to a 12 months’ community order, 20 days of rehabilitation activity and 60 hours of un-paid work. She was also ordered to pay costs of £3,523.74 and a surcharge of £60. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr John Powell, Cabinet Member for Environmental Health, said: “The purpose of licensing such sites is to ensure the safety of the public. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This case should act as a warning to any licence holder that if they fail to comply with the conditions attached to their licence and disregard important health and safety controls the council will take the appropriate action. Our officers will continue to make sure that site owners comply with the important safeguards.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​