A CHICKEN factory has been fined for pouring away fats, oils and greases which could have blocked sewers and caused flooding.

Makentie Limited was prosecuted by United Utilities after the water company’s staff carried out investigations near the food firm’s base on Wood Street in Golborne.

The poultry processing plant was ordered to pay £5,523 costs and a total fine of £6,500 after admitting three breaches of the Water Industry Act at Warrington Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Wednesday.

Tom Lissett, wastewater area business manager for Cheshire, said: “All our customers expect an effective wastewater service, so it is important we prosecute offenders who continually ignore our advice and warnings.

“It takes a great deal of time and customers’ money to unblock sewers and in many cases the situation gets so serious it causes sewer flooding, which can be awful for people and bad for the environment.”

On three occasions last summer Makentie Ltd breached legal limits of what can be sent into the sewer regarding oil and grease, suspended solids and pH levels.

It is a criminal offence under section 121 of the act to send trade effluent into a public sewer which is outside limits agreed with the water company.