Hinckley Big Pit contractors face fines and criminal records on muddy roads

Contractors at the Big Pit site in Hinckley face criminal action if they fail to clear mud from nearby roads. The former clay pit, on the town’s Ashby Road, is where 60 homes will be built.

Before they can be built, however, the pit needs to be filled in, which has led to a number of complaints about the site’s appointed contractor, Ambion Contractors, leaving Ashby Road and surrounding streets covered in mud. Safety concerns about the condition of the roads have led to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) issuing two warnings to Ambion, asking it to improve road sweeping and cleaning in the area.

However, other complaints have led to the council issuing a Community Protection Notice (CPN) against him, which could lead to fines if breached. The CPN was issued after Ashby Road, the surrounding pavements and roads near the Big Pit were repeatedly left in an “unacceptable condition”, the council said.

READ MORE: Leicestershire’s Martine Croxall loses part of case against BBC

The mess occurred despite the council issuing warnings to Ambion to limit the transfer of mud from the site. The most recent warning was issued last month.

Chris Brown, head of planning at HBBC, said the CPN was the last resort for officials. He said: “Ashby Road remains in an unacceptable condition around the site with mud across the road making it dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. This cannot continue.

“The council has now issued two warnings to the contractor which unfortunately have not resulted in the improvements we would have expected to see, so we have been left with no option but to serve a community protection notice.”

If Ambion Contractors does not comply with the CPN, it may face criminal penalties and even a criminal record. Failure to comply could result in the loss of items or a fine of up to £20,000. Ambion contractors can appeal a CPN through the courts, but the sanctions would remain in place pending an outcome. A spokesman for HBBC said Leicestershire County Council, as the Highways Authority, had also been made aware of the concerns.