Car park owner jailed for ignoring safety warning

The owner of a Cornwall car park has been jailed for nine months for ignoring a HSE prohibition notice requiring him to improve safety at the site.

Nicholas Eastwood was served with the notice in February 2008 after HSE discovered vehicles were being parked at the edge of a valley slope at the site, with a steep 30-metre to houses below. However, Eastwood failed to act on the notice and in August 2009 emergency services were called to the car park after a car was spotted hanging over the edge of the slope. Householders living below the site had to be evacuated while the car was removed.

Mr Eastwood, of St Ives, admitted breaching Sections 3(2) and 33(1)(g) of the HSWA 1974 and was given a custodial sentence of nine months for the 33(1) offence.

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