Stupid neighbours.... what to do?

[scaryoldcortina]

Blooming EA! what a load of idiots. I get a snotty oik with a clipboard telling me I run an unlicenced scrapyard (Its not scrap, thats my car collection, and parts are too rare to sell on.....) and winging about the multicoloured water out the gate (you,ve been spilling oil... no I havn't... it was a scrapyard for 20 years before I got it and a railway siding before that. There is NO chance of the runoff being completely oil free!)

Yet some git who wants to save a fiver can drain it into the road and they don't care. Great message that puts across.

[Autofive]

i should not comment about spilt oil - as my granada has a chronic oil leak - but throwing it in the gutter - especially as most of the UK is expecting two days solid rain this bank holiday weekend - is just plain dumb.

Most council tips have oil disposal facilities.

[impmann]

I have to say I'm shocked by all this.

Firstly, I'm shocked that anyone in the 21st century with all the bleatings of the environmentalists complaining about small fluffy creatures being harmed by CO2 ommissions and 4x4s and stuff could possibly think that it was even vaguely acceptable to open a sump plug onto the road. He's either a beligerent with no friends, a complete and utter moron or both the above. Air is wasted on him.

Secondly, the council have moaned at me in the past for having cars stored on private land as (and I quote) "the inevitable dripping of oil from such old cars has a detrimental and unacceptable impact on the land on which they are stood" and threatened to involve the EA when they took me to court over it. They didn't - I had to sell the cars. But its amazing that no-one seems bothered.

My suggestion is to write to your MP, the local paper (as a concerned local resident and responsible classic car owner) and also to write to your neighbours - as a high profile old car owner, you are more likely to get the blame for any oil contamination etc, so you don't want them knocking on your door!

I'm truly disgusted that anyone could behave like it.

[Lankytim]

I went out yesterday after posting on the board and shovelled a load of sawdust over it. Ive got stacks of the stuff as bedding for my rabbits. It soaked it up a treat. I'm going to go out later on an scrape it into bin bags and dispose of it. I know its all a bit Ian Beale but if hes not going to clean it up and EA arnt bothered someones gotta clean it up! Not having engine oil all over the place.

I think the main problem is the guys just a clueless fcukwit and it didnt occur to him how antisocial/dangerous/illegal what he was doing was. Maybe watching me clean it up will convey the message "this isnt acceptable, you retard". Of course id like to empty the bag all over him and hit him on the top of the head with the shovel but its probably best for me in the long run not to.

Ive had dealings with the EA before. When I rented a large yard to store bangers we had no end of trouble with them. Seems once they get their teeth into you they wont let go. Apparently more than 5 cars with parts missing means you run a scrapyard and you need a waste carriers licence and proper oil storage facilities. Wouldnt leave me alone and threated to take us all to court. Landlord wasnt happy, I wasnt happy but the EA call the shots so we had to comply. I think of their check sheet theres no provision for "banger racer" or "car enthisiast" its either a car park or a scrapyard. I recon if theres not a 100% chance of prosecuting someone they cant be bothered. Oil on the road and they might not beable to "do" somone for it, just get lumbered with cleaning it up. Stored cars and they can prosecute the owner... If you get what I mean?

[Lankytim]

Heh heh... That pugs for sale now with his mobile number in the window....... Should I post it up?

No. That would be wrong.

[daverapid]

lankytim said:

Heh heh... That pugs for sale now with his mobile number in the window....... Should I post it up?

No. That would be wrong.

;)Go on..you know you want to! ;D

[Lankytim]

Seems a bit out of order, posting his number up for people to arrange multiple viewings of his sheddy pug when I havent even got the bottle to go over and have it out with him face to face. Saying that though it would be funny.

[xbo11ox]

You could ring up the EA again pretending to be someone else complaining, and give them his number?

[Lankytim]

Thats an idea, but ive pretty much cleaned it up myself now.

[MWF]

Fair play to you for cleaning it up mate, that's really good of you to do that.

[Lankytim]

I didnt want to but it wont clean itself up!

[Mr K]

fool; I'm pretty sure storm drains don't receive the same level of treatment as sewage before being allowed into the water course; if a you get an idiotic plumber who hooks your domestic drains into the storm drain you can get in some pretty serious stuff (you and your plumber are held responsible). i fail to see why engine oil should be any different.

what a idiot.

[dugong]

What an curse word.

What may be relevant here is that I used to work for the Environment Agency, it's not the area I used to work in (too far South), but I can go down and have a word with the lads if you want, see if we can get anything done.

I only mention it because some inconsiderate cumburp did exactly this in Broadheath when I was there and got raped to the tune of £500 for clearing it up.

Which is what I think should happen to this cuntychop.

[Pillock]

nickyboi said:

fool; I'm pretty sure storm drains don't receive the same level of treatment as sewage before being allowed into the water course; if a you get an idiotic plumber who hooks your domestic drains into the storm drain you can get in some pretty serious stuff (you and your plumber are held responsible). I fail to see why engine oil should be any different.

what a idiot.

They don't. Surface drains usually end up in a watercourse before too long, as they're only designed to take away surface water which would naturally drain there anyway. Sewers must go to a treatment plant, and any leakage from sewers is heavily fined.

The EA around here fine Severn Trent on an almost monthly basis for mixing up of surface drains and sewerage. As for the original oil-draining moron, it'd be nice to get a load of whole fish from the fishmonger, let it go a bit smelly, then leave it all over his car with a note saying "this is what happens when oil gets into watercourses".

[Mr K]

ah right; knew there was somthing like that.

[impmann]

RESPECT for clearing it up mate, not everyone would do that.

[Hirst]

For info, I think this sort of thing can usually be dealt with by your local council highways department as I had an issue with someone and the highways enforcement bloke said that he'd been round there once before to fine them for disposing oil on the roadside.

Still, good work on you resolving the problem in a more direct way.

[Lankytim]

mischab18a said:

What an cad.

What may be relevant here is that I used to work for the Environment Agency, it's not the area I used to work in (too far South), but I can go down and have a word with the lads if you want, see if we can get anything done.

I only mention it because some inconsiderate cumburp did exactly this in Broadheath when I was there and got raped to the tune of £500 for clearing it up.


Which is what I think should happen to this cuntychop.

Do you think they could send him a letter or something? Along time lines of "you were seen dumping oils over the road, we have decided not to prosecute on this occasion but don't fcuking do it again"

don't want him doing it again.

[st182]

Cant believe anyone would be that stupid...... makes me feel a bit daft, as I panicked like hell the other week when I spilt less than half a litre of antireeze / water mix on my drive, I spent ages mopping it up.

Hats off to you for cleaning it up Lankytim, and I reakon if he did it because he is indeed a bit of a dope, then seeing you personally mop it up will probarly trigger his "don't do that again" switch- I hope.

There shouldn't be any trouble with you having cans of used oil stored, they wouldn't be impressed if it was open containers but if it's sealed and obviously not gallons and gallons like you're running a business they'll be fine

errrrm...... bloody hell that reminds me...... cos I'm a bit of a retard myself, I have still got every litre of used engine oil i've had since moving into my house. Its stored in old oil cans in the garage, but I must have about 6 maybe a more gallons of the stuff now

am I best off getting shut maybe two or three gallon at a time on a few consecutive weekends down the curse word yard? don't want to turn up with a boot full of the gear and get done or anything. keep meaning to get rid of it.......

[akku]

Don't you have an "oil bank" near by you can gop tip it into? Or even a receptacle at the local tip? Old engine oil makes a great rustproofer, but beware its carcinogenic.

Lankytim - good on you for cleaning it up. AT my old house EVERY time there was anymess int he street one of the neighbbours used to come round and pretty much try start a fight over it. It must be your mess because you're the one with the old cars...