William Eichler 07 April 2022

Council fined £8,000 after cliff collapse

Council fined £8,000 after cliff collapse   image
Image: steve bridge/Shutterstock.com.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council has been fined for undertaking work without a marine licence in the wake of a partial cliff collapse.

Following a cliff collapse at Hilbre Island in 2016, Wirral MBC commissioned contractors to shore-up the affected area.

The project involved the infilling of a cave with a combination of polyurethane slabs and polyurethane expanding foam.

However, neither the council nor the contractors applied to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) for a marine licence.

Following the initial work, a storm washed parts of the foam away, polluting the marine environment. The contractors reapplied the foam but it subsequently caught fire and burned for three days destroying everything in the cave.

‘This case shows the importance of applying for a marine licence before works are undertaken. Had marine experts been able to look at the proposals before works were undertaken these substances would not have been approved for use and would not have entered the marine environment,’ said an MMO spokesperson.

‘In cases like these, MMO will always take proportionate and appropriate action, including prosecution, to ensure the marine environment is protected.’

A Wirral Council spokesperson said: ‘Wirral Council takes its responsibility for the custodianship of Hilbre Islands – and the protection of the local environment generally – extremely seriously, which is why we did not contest this charge in relation to the 2019 incident.’

They added: ‘We are very sorry to everyone who was affected and impacted by this incident and we are grateful that the environment around the islands does not appear to have suffered lasting damage as a result.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Lifeguard – Shift Pattern 1

Ribble Valley Borough Council
Scale 1B (scp 3-4) £12.45 to £12.65 per hour
We are looking for an experienced lifeguard to perform lifeguard duties Clitheroe, Lancashire
Recuriter: Ribble Valley Borough Council

Lifeguard – Shift Pattern 2

Ribble Valley Borough Council
Scale 1B (scp 3-4) £12.45 to £12.65 per hour
We are looking for an experienced lifeguard to perform lifeguard duties Clitheroe, Lancashire
Recuriter: Ribble Valley Borough Council

Business Support to Senior Leader

Wakefield Council
£24,790 - £25,183, Grade 4, 37 hours, Permanent
Are you flexible, looking for a challenge and a role where no two days are the same? Then this is the role for you! Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Locality Team Manager - East

Wakefield Council
£49,764 - £52,805, Grade 12, 37 hours, Permanent
We are looking for a Locality Team Manager to lead and manage a Locality Team Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Co-ordination Support Officer - Admin

Wakefield Council
£25,584 - £27,269, Grade 5, 37 hours, Permanent
Do you have excellent business administration skills with an interest in working in Adults Social Care? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner