THE owner of an eyesore farm in Colne has been prosecuted for burning waste which caused plumes of dark smoke to pass across the town.

John Allison from Hubbs House Farm in Colne appeared before Burnley Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty two charges of contravening the Clean Air Act and was given a 12 month conditional discharge.

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He was also ordered to pay £225 towards Pendle Council’s prosecution costs.

Mr Allison pleaded guilty to two out of four charges brought by the council’s Environmental Health department, after he held bonfires at the Southfield Lane farm in November 2014 and February 2015.

The waste burned included tractor tyres, plastics and board materials.

Waterside ward councillor Tony Greaves believes that the penalties for the blazes should have been tougher.

He said: “At last we are starting to get somewhere. But I am surprised by the sentence for these fires, only a 12 month conditional discharge.

“If this kind of activity does not warrant a serious fine, I don’t know what does, when allowing your dog to do its business in the street can result in a fine of a hundred pounds.”

The farm has been in the spotlight during the past few years because of complaints of fires and large amounts of slurry and rubbish being dumped.

In February a resolution was passed at a meeting of Pendle Council’s executive to address issues of the dumping of waste and lighting fires on the farm.

Pendle Council, Lancashire County council, the police, the Environment Agency and the fire service have been co-ordination action against the farm during the past months.

Town councillor Janet Whincup lives in the Knotts Lane area. She said: “I am pleased action is being taken at last.”

Updates on the farm are being submitted to every Colne and District Committee meeting, until the site is tidied up.