Published: Thursday, 25th June, 2009 3:36pm

Skip firm could be turned to rubble

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A SKIP company has had the tables turned on them after being ordered to demolish their own buildings.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has served two enforcement notices on Ascot firm Recycle Recycle after it built at Oaklands Farm on Wells Lane without planning permission.

The orders were served on Thursday, June 11, with one relating to operational development regarding the removal of gates, fencing and a building, and the other was issued on the change of use of the site which is now being used for the importation and depositing of waste.

Richard Melvin, principal enforcement officer at the Royal Borough, said: 'Recycle Recycle set up business earlier in the year and have been operating a skip hire business.

'The company moved onto the site without permission and have put down concrete to store the skips on, fencing, gates and a building without obtaining the necessary planning consent.'

The skip firm picks up plastics, scrap, electrical equipment and household waste and aims to recycle around 80% of what it collects.

But Kaz Ali, director of the company, is defending the firm and said that the enforcement notices are completely unjust and are affecting trade. He said: 'I don"t understand why the council has put these enforcement notices on us because the site has been trading in the same business for over 25 years. The site is well-known for being a land fill site for the best part of 25 years. Our business is now suffering because of these notices.

Mr Ali also said that the company is in the process of applying for a certificate of lawful development which will show that its activities are legal.

Recycle Recycle is appealing against the notices and has until Thursday, July 23, to submit all the necessary documents to the Royal Borough.

If the company does not win the appeal or comply with the orders they could face prosecution.