Fines of £210 for acid spill
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A BUILD-UP of pressure causing a gasket to rupture was blamed for a spillage of hydrochloric acid from a road tanker when Manchester Tankers Ltd, of Warrington, and driver, Joseph Threlfall of Carlton Way, Glazebrook, Warrington, appeared at St Helen's Magistrates' Court.
They were accused of depositing acid on Jubits Lane, Sutton Manor, causing damage and interrupting use of the road. They pleaded not guilty.
They also denied using a tanker which was in a dangerous condition, but admitted carrying an insecure load.
The magistrates found the cases proved and fined the firm £75 for using a tanker in a dangerous condition, £70 for carrying an insecure load, £10 for damaging the highway and £25 for interrupting the use of the road.
Driver, Threlfall, was fined £10 for using a tanker in a dangerous condition, £10 for driving with an insecure load and £5 for each of interrupting the use of and damaging the road.
Inspector Gerald O'Connell, prosecuting, said it had taken four hours before the fire service had washed away the acid.
Gerald Barling, defending, said the firm did not know they were carrying acid. They were contracted, he said, to carry only neutralised solutions and the vehicle was perfectly suitable for that. _ Howard Luther, managing director of the company, said that there had been a build up of pressure in the tanker, because of the load.