Owners of Camelford former petrol station fined
They failed to provide Cornwall Fire and Rescue with safety information
The owners of a former petrol station near Camelford have been ordered to pay £26,790 in fines and court costs, for failing to provide Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service with correct safety information.
An inspection of Hallworthy Petrol Filling Station in July 2023 by fire officers found the site was no longer selling petrol and the forecourt was being used as a makeshift scrapyard.
The owners are legally required to make the site safe to reduce the risk of an explosion or environmental contamination.
Multiple requests for information were made to registered owners of the business; Jeyapratha Kawasihan, Sobrika Kirupaharan and Yalini Inbaruban.
None of them responded or provided the required information.
The trio were prosecuted at Bodmin Magistrates Court for failing to provide information that would assist Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service in their investigations with regard the safety of the petrol tanks, associated equipment and who had control of the premises.
Kirupaharan and Inbaruban, who did not attend the hearing, were found guilty and each were fined £9,000 and ordered to pay £930 in court costs.
Kawasihan, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £930 in court costs.
The court ordered that the fines and costs be paid in full within 28 days.
Graham Hughes, Protection Manager for Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Business owners have a legal responsibility to ensure their premises are safe. These individuals have failed to cooperate and have shown a disregard for the safety of their local community.
“Prosecution is always a last resort but if people fail to comply with regulatory requirements, become obstructive or when a potential serious risk to public safety is identified, we will not hesitate to take action."