Farm shop owner faces health and safety trial

A farm shop owner is set to face trial over health and safety breaches involving workers being exposed to unsafe sewage storage systems.

Paul Palmer, 49, of Wreaks Road, Birstwith, in Nidderdale, of Mackenzies Smoked Products, appeared at York Crown Court on Monday for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

The court was told that between 30 November 2021 and 21 December 2022, sufficient safety checks were allegedly not in place to ensure the lid of an effluent tank at Mackenzies Farm Shop, on Woodnook Farm, Blubberhouses, was properly secured for employees.

A trial date was set for 4 August 2025, with another hearing arranged for 21 November to discuss a potential application to dismiss charges against Mr Palmer.

Pleas will also be taken during the hearing in November.

Both Mr Palmer and the company, which has headquarters based in Aberford Road, Leeds, first appeared in court on 10 July this year for “failing to conduct a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the risks to persons not in their employment arising out of (or in connection with) their conduct of their undertaking, in that they failed to assess the risk posed by the lid of an effluent tank on their premises”.

The company also pleaded not guilty to this on 10 July.

Effluent tanks are used as temporary sewage storage systems to collect waste from facilities which are not connected to the mains.

This method means that the waste can remain contained until it is then disposed of professionally.

According to the Mackenzies Farm Shop’s website, it has been under new management since November 2023.

The shop, which has been running for more than two decades, also has a café that serves an array of locally sourced products, including fresh fruit and vegetables and meat.

There is also an on-site smokehouse that offers smoked meats and pates.

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