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Council confirms legal action after scrapyard fire

Matthew LockwoodBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire
London Fire Brigade A close up of the fire at the metal recycling centre. Thick, grey smoke is rising from the pile of metal.London Fire Brigade
About 80 firefighters tackled the fire at Springwell Metal Recycling, in Harefield, near Rickmansworth

A council has confirmed it is taking legal action against an unregulated metal recycling centre following a fire.

About 80 firefighters tackled the blaze involving 80 tonnes of waste at Springwell Metal Recycling, in Springwell Lane, Harefield, near Rickmansworth, on 5 May.

A spokesperson for Hillingdon Council said it had "initiated legal proceedings against [the owner] for failing to comply with an enforcement notice requiring it to cease operating as a scrap metal yard".

The BBC has approached the site's owner for comment.

In September 2024 the business was served with a council enforcement notice to "cease the use of the land as a scrap metal yard".

The notice was upheld in March last year after Springwell Metal Recycling unsuccessfully appealed.

"The council has applied for an interim injunction, to immediately require the unauthorised use of the site to cease which will be heard at the High Court on Friday 8 May," the council's spokesperson added.

Eric Johnson/BBC A close up of firefighters dousing the flames at the recycling centre. A fire engine is parked up at the end of the lane. Eric Johnson/BBC
Crews from Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire were involved in tackling the blaze

London Fire Brigade, who led the response to the fire, said the cause of the blaze was "accidental" and no-one was injured in the incident.

Hillingdon Council said it had been in discussions with the Environment Agency, which is responsible for regulating scrap metal sites.

Eric Johnson/BBC A close up of the firefighters inspecting the scrap metal that is alight. Hoses used to tackle the blaze remain on the ground. Eric Johnson/BBC
London Fire Brigade said the cause of the fire was "accidental"

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "We were on site yesterday supporting the fire and rescue services to monitor the nearby watercourse and ensure there were no environmental impacts from the fire.

"Prior to the fire we took action to shut down this illegal waste site, including deregistering the operator's waste exemption and instructing them to remove the waste.

"We are working in tandem with the local authority and will use all our powers to prevent further illegal activity."

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