On Monday 24 February 2020, Mid Wales Activity Ltd., Pontrhydfendigaid was fined £30,000 by a Judge at Swansea Crown Court. This followed an earlier guilty plea to a single charge made under Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Ceredigion County Council brought the prosecution before the Court following an extensive investigation into a fatal accident which occurred at the track in June 2018, where 24 year old Joshua Pillinger lost control of his car and sustained fatal head injuries.
The investigation was undertaken by Environmental Health Officers working in the Public Protection team. They concluded that Mid Wales Activity Ltd. had failed to put in place suitable and sufficient systems for managing Health and Safety at events staged at the facility that were under the control of the Company, rather than a recognised motorsport body.
Councillor Gareth Lloyd, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for Finance and Public Protection services said that he extended sincere condolences to the family of Mr Pillinger. He continued: “I’m grateful to the officers involved in the investigation who not only brought the matter before the Court, but have also worked in partnership to ensure that recreational sites within Ceredigion are safe and meet the minimum standards so that residents and visitors can enjoy themselves without the risk of unnecessary injury or worse.”
Judge Keith Thomas in passing sentence told the court that he accepted that the Company had failed undertake a Risk assessment or Management process that identified the relevant hazards at the racetrack. He noted that the Company had not carried out any assessment of participant ability, did not insist on the use of protective equipment and had no plans to deal with emergencies should they arise.
27/02/2020