Asbestos Claims
A NUNEATON firm has been fined £32,000, plus £2,174 costs, for failing to dispose of asbestos properly.
Crown Waste Management, based on the Pool Road Industrial Estate, pleaded guilty at Coventry Magistrates’ Court to three charges brought by the Environment Agency under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005.
Kiran Cassini, prosecuting, told the court that in September 2009 Crown Waste Management were contracted to remove asbestos lagging from Gamecock Barracks in Bramcote.
Two skips were delivered to the site by Crown Waste Management and later collected for disposal.
The skips were deposited on land at Pool Road, Nuneaton, where no environmental permit was in force.
Mr Cassini explained that on both occasions, when the skips were collected, the relevant consignment notes were not provided as required by the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005.
It was not until November 17, 2009 that a consignment note was provided stating that the asbestos had been taken to Sita Limited, in Packington Lane, near Coventry, that was authorised to accept asbestos when, in fact, the waste remained on land at Pool Road until the Environment Agency began to investigate matters.
Following intervention by the Environment Agency, the asbestos was finally disposed of correctly in July 2010.
In mitigation, the court was told that the incident arose as a result of a member of staff ‘forgetting’ that the waste had been deposited opposite the permitted facility.
The employee had since been dismissed, the court heard.
The company said the incident did not result in any pollution or harm to human health.
source: coventrytelegraph.net
Friday, 5 August 2011
Great grandfather Norman Lancefield, 91, is UK’s oldest scuba diver
Diving Claims
Despite taking up the hobby relatively late – aged 58 in 1978 – Norman has racked up hundreds of dives and completed his latest one at Babbacombe Beach in Torquay, Devon.
Norman is an active member of the Barry branch of the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC).
He said: “It’s another world down there and I feel privileged to be able to see it.
“I don’t go much on wrecks and things but I do love to see the seaweed and when I did my most recent dive there was such a variety of seaweed, some small, some big and it is a beautiful part of nature.”
Norman also watches for other sea life too and recalled a special moment during a dive off the Gower coast.
He said: “I was following my buddy closely and I was just behind him and I saw what I thought was a stone and I thought, no that’s not a stone and, would you believe it, it was an octopus.
“Well I grabbed my buddy by the ankle and showed him and we thought, can you believe it, seeing an octopus in Wales.
“That has always stuck in my mind.”
The former beekeeper first took up the sport when he tried some snorkelling on holiday in Spain and on his return decided he would like to improve his new skill.
He has been a member of the same dive club for more than 30 years and he still attends training sessions at the same school every week.
Russ Phillips, training officer at Barry Sub-Aqua Club, said Norman was a remarkable diver and continued to pass his medicals with ease, doing better in the tests even than some of the younger members.
And Mary Tetley, BSAC chief executive, said: “As far as BSAC is aware, Norman is our oldest active diving member and we’re delighted that he is still getting in the water.
“Scuba diving is accessible to all ages and Norman is proof that age is no barrier when you’re doing something you enjoy.”
To find out more about Barry BSAC, go to www.barrysubaqua.org and to contact BSAC to find out about diving in your area, go to www.bsac.com or call free on 0500 947 202.
source: walesonline.co.uk
Despite taking up the hobby relatively late – aged 58 in 1978 – Norman has racked up hundreds of dives and completed his latest one at Babbacombe Beach in Torquay, Devon.
Norman is an active member of the Barry branch of the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC).
He said: “It’s another world down there and I feel privileged to be able to see it.
“I don’t go much on wrecks and things but I do love to see the seaweed and when I did my most recent dive there was such a variety of seaweed, some small, some big and it is a beautiful part of nature.”
Norman also watches for other sea life too and recalled a special moment during a dive off the Gower coast.
He said: “I was following my buddy closely and I was just behind him and I saw what I thought was a stone and I thought, no that’s not a stone and, would you believe it, it was an octopus.
“Well I grabbed my buddy by the ankle and showed him and we thought, can you believe it, seeing an octopus in Wales.
“That has always stuck in my mind.”
The former beekeeper first took up the sport when he tried some snorkelling on holiday in Spain and on his return decided he would like to improve his new skill.
He has been a member of the same dive club for more than 30 years and he still attends training sessions at the same school every week.
Russ Phillips, training officer at Barry Sub-Aqua Club, said Norman was a remarkable diver and continued to pass his medicals with ease, doing better in the tests even than some of the younger members.
And Mary Tetley, BSAC chief executive, said: “As far as BSAC is aware, Norman is our oldest active diving member and we’re delighted that he is still getting in the water.
“Scuba diving is accessible to all ages and Norman is proof that age is no barrier when you’re doing something you enjoy.”
To find out more about Barry BSAC, go to www.barrysubaqua.org and to contact BSAC to find out about diving in your area, go to www.bsac.com or call free on 0500 947 202.
source: walesonline.co.uk
30% rise in negligence claims against NHS
Medical Negligence
Clinical negligence claims against the National Health Service have increased by almost a third over the past year, with an extra £100million paid out to victims of medical blunders.
Nearly 9,000 patients claimed for damages after allegedly suffering at the hands of doctors or nurses, figures from the NHS Litigation Authority show.
It paid out £863m to victims of accidents in hospitals and clinics, up from £787m the year before, after settling 5,398 cases.
But a quarter of this was spent on legal costs, with £200m going to claimants’ lawyers under the system whereby so-called “ambulance chasers” can charge up to £900 an hour to pursue claims.
The litigation authority’s annual report is scathing about the current regime, which it claims is driving the “rapid growth in claims numbers” rather than any increase in mistakes by NHS staff.
Under the “no-win, no-fee” system set up by Labour so poorer people could have access to justice, known as Conditional Fee Arrangements, claimants do not have to pay for lawyers upfront. But if they win cases, the lawyers can claim big “success fees” from the defendant.
Steve Walker, chief executive of the NHS Litigation Authority , said: “We believe very strongly that a regime which allows success fees and the recoverability of After the Event (ATE) insurance premiums makes litigation so profitable that solicitors and so-called ‘claims farmers’ are drawn into the market thereby fuelling the rise in claims volumes we have experienced.”
However he added that the body is “delighted” that the Ministry of Justice is acting on the Jackson review of civil litigation costs, which recommended that success fees and ATE premiums should not be recoverable in no-win, no-fee cases.
At the same time the Government hopes to save millions every year by scrapping Legal Aid in cases of alleged malpractice.
The litigation authority’s report shows that in total it recorded 12,142 claims against NHS trusts in 2010-11 but expects only 4 per cent to go to court, as most will either be settled beforehand or dropped.
Of these, 8,655 were clinical claims, up from 6,652 the previous year, and 4,346 were non-clinical, up from 4,074.
A further 22,364 claims were still open at the end of the financial year.
The authority – funded partly by trusts and partly by the Department of Health directly – paid out £729m under its main clinical scheme and a further £134m under claims relating to incidents that took place before 1995.
This was an increase on £651m under the current scheme and £136m under the old schemes recorded in 2009-10.
A further £47.9m was paid out in non-clinical cases.
However these figures do not only include compensation paid to patients, staff and members of the public but legal costs as well.
“The costs claimed by claimant lawyers continue to be significantly higher than those incurred on our behalf by our panel defence solicitors. This continues to be a major concern.
“The availability of Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs) and the continued increase in their use by claimants in clinical negligence claims has also meant that claimants’ costs are almost invariably disproportionate, often significantly, to the amount of damages paid, particularly in low-value claims.
“In the 5,398 clinical negligence claims closed by us with a damages payment in 2010/11, we paid over £257m in total legal costs, of which almost £200m (76 per cent of the total costs expenditure) was paid to claimant lawyers.”
source: telegraph.co.uk
Clinical negligence claims against the National Health Service have increased by almost a third over the past year, with an extra £100million paid out to victims of medical blunders.
Nearly 9,000 patients claimed for damages after allegedly suffering at the hands of doctors or nurses, figures from the NHS Litigation Authority show.
It paid out £863m to victims of accidents in hospitals and clinics, up from £787m the year before, after settling 5,398 cases.
But a quarter of this was spent on legal costs, with £200m going to claimants’ lawyers under the system whereby so-called “ambulance chasers” can charge up to £900 an hour to pursue claims.
The litigation authority’s annual report is scathing about the current regime, which it claims is driving the “rapid growth in claims numbers” rather than any increase in mistakes by NHS staff.
Under the “no-win, no-fee” system set up by Labour so poorer people could have access to justice, known as Conditional Fee Arrangements, claimants do not have to pay for lawyers upfront. But if they win cases, the lawyers can claim big “success fees” from the defendant.
Steve Walker, chief executive of the NHS Litigation Authority , said: “We believe very strongly that a regime which allows success fees and the recoverability of After the Event (ATE) insurance premiums makes litigation so profitable that solicitors and so-called ‘claims farmers’ are drawn into the market thereby fuelling the rise in claims volumes we have experienced.”
However he added that the body is “delighted” that the Ministry of Justice is acting on the Jackson review of civil litigation costs, which recommended that success fees and ATE premiums should not be recoverable in no-win, no-fee cases.
At the same time the Government hopes to save millions every year by scrapping Legal Aid in cases of alleged malpractice.
The litigation authority’s report shows that in total it recorded 12,142 claims against NHS trusts in 2010-11 but expects only 4 per cent to go to court, as most will either be settled beforehand or dropped.
Of these, 8,655 were clinical claims, up from 6,652 the previous year, and 4,346 were non-clinical, up from 4,074.
A further 22,364 claims were still open at the end of the financial year.
The authority – funded partly by trusts and partly by the Department of Health directly – paid out £729m under its main clinical scheme and a further £134m under claims relating to incidents that took place before 1995.
This was an increase on £651m under the current scheme and £136m under the old schemes recorded in 2009-10.
A further £47.9m was paid out in non-clinical cases.
However these figures do not only include compensation paid to patients, staff and members of the public but legal costs as well.
“The costs claimed by claimant lawyers continue to be significantly higher than those incurred on our behalf by our panel defence solicitors. This continues to be a major concern.
“The availability of Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs) and the continued increase in their use by claimants in clinical negligence claims has also meant that claimants’ costs are almost invariably disproportionate, often significantly, to the amount of damages paid, particularly in low-value claims.
“In the 5,398 clinical negligence claims closed by us with a damages payment in 2010/11, we paid over £257m in total legal costs, of which almost £200m (76 per cent of the total costs expenditure) was paid to claimant lawyers.”
source: telegraph.co.uk
Tributes to Barnard Castle woman who died in accident on A167 between Northallerton and Thirsk
Yorkshire Personal Injury
THE family of a young car enthusiast who died in an accident on Monday night say they are devastated.
Sian Morgan died when her silver Vauxhall Corsa hit a tree after it came off the A167, between Northallerton and Thirsk, North Yorkshire, at about 10pm.
Miss Morgan, 20, from Barnard Castle, County Durham, died at the scene. Her male passenger, who is also 20 and from Stockton, suffered serious injuries and is recovering in hospital.
It is thought Miss Morgan was in a convoy with two other cars that had travelled from Thirsk to Northallerton earlier in the evening, and at the time of the collision were returning to Thirsk.
Last night, her family said in a statement: “Philip, Donna and Flo are deeply shocked and devastated by the sudden loss of their cherished and much-loved daughter and sister.
“Sian will be deeply missed.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and kind thoughts at this difficult time.”
Miss Morgan went to Teesdale School, in Barnard Castle, before going on to study IT at Darlington College.
Kath MacColl, from the college, said: “Sian will be remembered by staff as an outgoing student who was friendly and popular amongst her peers.
“She mixed well and was an enthusiastic student.”
Miss Morgan had been modifying her Vauxhall Corsa for several months and was a member of the Corsa-C UK enthusiasts group.
Since her death, several members have paid tribute to her on the group website.
One member wrote: “Such a waste. She was such an energetic lass, always made you laugh.”
Earlier this week, several members of the group went on a drive around Teesside and North Yorkshire in memory of Miss Morgan.
Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call police on 0845-60-60-24-7.
source: darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk
THE family of a young car enthusiast who died in an accident on Monday night say they are devastated.
Sian Morgan died when her silver Vauxhall Corsa hit a tree after it came off the A167, between Northallerton and Thirsk, North Yorkshire, at about 10pm.
Miss Morgan, 20, from Barnard Castle, County Durham, died at the scene. Her male passenger, who is also 20 and from Stockton, suffered serious injuries and is recovering in hospital.
It is thought Miss Morgan was in a convoy with two other cars that had travelled from Thirsk to Northallerton earlier in the evening, and at the time of the collision were returning to Thirsk.
Last night, her family said in a statement: “Philip, Donna and Flo are deeply shocked and devastated by the sudden loss of their cherished and much-loved daughter and sister.
“Sian will be deeply missed.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and kind thoughts at this difficult time.”
Miss Morgan went to Teesdale School, in Barnard Castle, before going on to study IT at Darlington College.
Kath MacColl, from the college, said: “Sian will be remembered by staff as an outgoing student who was friendly and popular amongst her peers.
“She mixed well and was an enthusiastic student.”
Miss Morgan had been modifying her Vauxhall Corsa for several months and was a member of the Corsa-C UK enthusiasts group.
Since her death, several members have paid tribute to her on the group website.
One member wrote: “Such a waste. She was such an energetic lass, always made you laugh.”
Earlier this week, several members of the group went on a drive around Teesside and North Yorkshire in memory of Miss Morgan.
Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call police on 0845-60-60-24-7.
source: darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk
Disabled teenager had smoked cannabis and drunk before 120mph crash killed him and friend
Manchester Personal Injury
A disabled teenage driver was twice the drink-drive limit and had been smoking cannabis when he crashed after speeding at up to 120mph, killing himself and his friend.
Will Paton and passenger William Sheppard, both 18, died instantly in the crash on Boxing Day last year.
Moments before, Paton lost control of his high-powered black Golf TSi he was driving one-handed with his mobile phone in his other hand.
Two other friends, who were also in the car, survived with minor injuries.
An inquest in Macclesfield heard how all four teenagers had downed pints of beer and shots of spirits at Parrs Wood entertainment complex in East Didsbury, Greater Manchester, hours before the crash at 11.50pm.
Paton and Sheppard - who worked at the Malmaison hotel in Manchester - and friend Louis Drinkwater, who survived, had also smoked cannabis.
The friends decided to drive to Tesco at Handforth Dean. But Paton, who was registered disabled and bought the car on a Mobility scheme, lost control of the vehicle as he left the A555 slip-road on to the A34 at Handforth Dean.
The car careered into a roundabout and was flung down an embankment into a field.
A police investigation into the crash found the car had been travelling at up to 78mph when it hit the roundabout, but witnesses said it had reached 120mph along the A555.
Sergeant Andrew Dennison said: 'This accident was caused by the vehicle coming off the A555 at a speed I consider to be wholly inappropriate.
'This young man has crashed killing himself and his friend.'
Drinkwater, the best friend of trainee chef Sheppard, said: 'We approached the roundabout and were going way too fast so I braced myself.
'I heard the scrape of a wheel and the car lost control. The next thing I knew it was in orbit.
'I was absolutely terrified and remember looking out the front windscreen and seeing the sky and a fence.
We must have been flipping multiple times. I shouted to the lads but there was no response.
'The car stopped and steam started coming in. I thought petrol was pouring onto me.
'I managed to kick through the window and sprinted away thinking the car was going to explode.
'Then I realised it wasn't petrol on me, it was blood. I knew it wasn't mine.
'The ambulance man told me both my friends had passed away. I couldn't describe the feeling, I was just in total shock. William Sheppard was my best mate.'
Guy Hopkinson, the fourth passenger who survived with a sprained back, said his best friend, Paton, was usually a good driver but he added he had sometimes driven quite 'idiotically' or dangerously in his car, which was described as his pride and joy.
Coroner Jean Harkin recorded a verdict of misadventure for Paton and one of accidental death for Sheppard.
The families of the former Bramhall High pupils, both from Stockport, paid tribute to their sons.
Paton, who was registered disabled due to a condition affecting his feet and knees, had been due to turn 19 the day after the crash.
His family said he was not a regular drinker or a 'boy racer type'.
His mother Rachel Paton, of Thornway, Stockport, said: 'Will was a very well-known character at Bramhall High and it was a shock to us that he had been drink-driving.
'He was not a regular drinker and we feel that this night was a one-off disastrous accident.
'We weren't aware of him being what might be called a boy racer. His disability had made him an extremely strong and brave character.' Sheppard's father, Geoffrey, of Cheadle, said: 'William was a gentle, kind and compassionate young man.
'We find it hard to believe that he would have got in the car knowing that the driver had been drinking.
'It's something that really haunts myself and my family and unfortunately he is not here to ask the question of.'
source: dailymail.co.uk
A disabled teenage driver was twice the drink-drive limit and had been smoking cannabis when he crashed after speeding at up to 120mph, killing himself and his friend.
Will Paton and passenger William Sheppard, both 18, died instantly in the crash on Boxing Day last year.
Moments before, Paton lost control of his high-powered black Golf TSi he was driving one-handed with his mobile phone in his other hand.
Two other friends, who were also in the car, survived with minor injuries.
An inquest in Macclesfield heard how all four teenagers had downed pints of beer and shots of spirits at Parrs Wood entertainment complex in East Didsbury, Greater Manchester, hours before the crash at 11.50pm.
Paton and Sheppard - who worked at the Malmaison hotel in Manchester - and friend Louis Drinkwater, who survived, had also smoked cannabis.
The friends decided to drive to Tesco at Handforth Dean. But Paton, who was registered disabled and bought the car on a Mobility scheme, lost control of the vehicle as he left the A555 slip-road on to the A34 at Handforth Dean.
The car careered into a roundabout and was flung down an embankment into a field.
A police investigation into the crash found the car had been travelling at up to 78mph when it hit the roundabout, but witnesses said it had reached 120mph along the A555.
Sergeant Andrew Dennison said: 'This accident was caused by the vehicle coming off the A555 at a speed I consider to be wholly inappropriate.
'This young man has crashed killing himself and his friend.'
Drinkwater, the best friend of trainee chef Sheppard, said: 'We approached the roundabout and were going way too fast so I braced myself.
'I heard the scrape of a wheel and the car lost control. The next thing I knew it was in orbit.
'I was absolutely terrified and remember looking out the front windscreen and seeing the sky and a fence.
We must have been flipping multiple times. I shouted to the lads but there was no response.
'The car stopped and steam started coming in. I thought petrol was pouring onto me.
'I managed to kick through the window and sprinted away thinking the car was going to explode.
'Then I realised it wasn't petrol on me, it was blood. I knew it wasn't mine.
'The ambulance man told me both my friends had passed away. I couldn't describe the feeling, I was just in total shock. William Sheppard was my best mate.'
Guy Hopkinson, the fourth passenger who survived with a sprained back, said his best friend, Paton, was usually a good driver but he added he had sometimes driven quite 'idiotically' or dangerously in his car, which was described as his pride and joy.
Coroner Jean Harkin recorded a verdict of misadventure for Paton and one of accidental death for Sheppard.
The families of the former Bramhall High pupils, both from Stockport, paid tribute to their sons.
Paton, who was registered disabled due to a condition affecting his feet and knees, had been due to turn 19 the day after the crash.
His family said he was not a regular drinker or a 'boy racer type'.
His mother Rachel Paton, of Thornway, Stockport, said: 'Will was a very well-known character at Bramhall High and it was a shock to us that he had been drink-driving.
'He was not a regular drinker and we feel that this night was a one-off disastrous accident.
'We weren't aware of him being what might be called a boy racer. His disability had made him an extremely strong and brave character.' Sheppard's father, Geoffrey, of Cheadle, said: 'William was a gentle, kind and compassionate young man.
'We find it hard to believe that he would have got in the car knowing that the driver had been drinking.
'It's something that really haunts myself and my family and unfortunately he is not here to ask the question of.'
source: dailymail.co.uk
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