To bring you up to date with the legal proceedings by the Environment Agency against Anthony Shepherd in relation to the activities that we are all familiar with that had been taking place at the site next to Drinkfield Marsh known as 630 Whessoe Road.

Friday 21^st January is the plea and case management hearing at Teesside Crown Court at 10.00am. There are three defendents, Brain Shaun Wright, Raymond Anthony Shepherd and Albert Road Skip Hire; they will all be invited to make separate pleas, guilty or not guilty.

If the plea is not guilty, then a date will be set for a hearing where the EA will present the evidence that they have gathered.

If the plea is guilty, then a date will be set for sentencing. In the Crown Court there is no limit on fines and there could be a custodial sentence.

The hearing is open to members of the public.

There have been critisim made in the past at the lack of action and the slow response by the Environment Agency to the actviites that have been taking place at this site. On November 14th Harrowgate Farm Residents association arranged a protest in order to highlight what they thought was lack of action by the Agency.

So, it is a positive step forward that the case is finally to be heard on Friday this week. We await the outcome with interest.