Herefordshire Council takes action against Director of Golden Valley Utilities

The grass is no longer greener on the other side for county landscaper Robert Bruce McLelland after Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service stepped in to make sure the quality of his work improves.

After receiving complaints against Mr McLelland, the director of Golden Valley Utilities Ltd., Council Officers took action under the Enterprise Act 2002 to protect consumers.

The complaints related to the poor standard of his landscaping and paving business and his general lack of reasonable care and skill in work that he undertook.

Customers had to have the work re-done and in one case a wall collapsed just after it had been built. This could have caused serious injury.

Attempts by Trading Standards Officers to consult with Mr McLelland and persuade him to resolve the complaints and to trade fairly were fruitless. As a result, the Council was left with no alternative but to seek an enforcement order under the Enterprise Act.

This Act empowers a Trading Standards Service to take action against traders who act to the detriment of the community by means of a voluntary undertaking or an enforcement order and ultimately action for contempt of court if the order is breached.

Mr McLelland did not attend a court hearing, on Friday last week, March 24, and an interim enforcement order was obtained pending a final order.

Mr McLelland is forbidden from undertaking any contract for the provision of goods and services without reasonable care and skill or to act in a negligent manner.

Trading Standards Manager Mike Pigrem said: “It’s the aim of the Trading Standards Service to work together with businesses to resolve complaints and this often is the case.

“However, in cases when the traders do not respond, we will take action against traders such as Mr McLelland who deliberately flout their contractual obligations and the law.”

Anyone who has a complaint against Golden Valley Utilities Ltd or Golden Valley Tarmacadam Ltd, Mr McLelland’s new venture should contact Enforcement Officer Tereza Atyeo on (01432) 383229.