Times News
Melksham scrap firm backs action
5:00pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012
A Melksham scrap metal firm recently raided by police has backed action to crack down on metal theft.
Melksham Metal Recycling, in Station Approach, was one of four Wiltshire scrapyards raided on January 30 by police and other agencies looking for stolen scrap metal, which has soared in value.
A quantity of cabling was seized by police, and the Environment Agency served the firm with two notices under the Environmental Protection Act, ordering the company to remove waste from areas where it should not have been stored and banning the firm from accepting any more scrap metal .
Police and Environment Agency investigations are still being conducted.
However the firm can continue its car stripping, skip hire and mixed waste disposal.
At present, any metal waste not covered by the firm’s Station Yard site permits is being directed to other yards while it reapplies for a permit to continue metal recycling.
Lee Hazel, managing director of Melksham Metal Recycling, which employs 10 people, said: “We fully support the police in this initiative as we have very strict policies on any metals we suspect have been stolen.
“We are always happy to welcome the police and other agencies on to our site as we believe in an open-door policy. Like any reputable dealer, we want to see the metal thieves put out of business.”
Mr Hazel added that sorting scrap metal and other materials is a highly regulated industry and a key part of the Government’s strategy on recycling.
He said: “The UK is far behind some other European countries in its recycling levels and, as an industry, we play a key role in helping the Government reach EU targets.”
Four companies in Wiltshire were visited by police and a variety of other agencies as part of a nationwide crackdown on metal thefts.
Ten people were arrested for a variety of suspected offences, but none were arrested at Melksham Metal Recycling. Of the 10 people arrested last week, one, arrested in Swindon, has been released with no further action being taken.
A 65-year-old man, arrested at EJ Shanley Skip Hire, has also been released from bail with no further police action.
A 27-year-old man, arrested at Christian Malford, accepted a caution. Seven people remain on bail.