BURNLEY MP Peter Pike wants the Environment Agency to appeal against a "lenient" fine imposed on chemical company Nipa Laboratories following a gas leak at its Hyndburn factory.

He has written to the agency demanding that it asks for the sentence to be reviewed after claiming that it was "incredible".

He told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph he was amazed that instead of a fine of hundreds of thousands of pounds, Nipa was fined just £20,000 by Burnley Crown Court and ordered to pay £54,000 costs.

The judge, Recorder Arthur Noble, chose not to change his sentence after it was pointed out he had overlooked the fact the gas leak was not Nipa's first pollution offence at its Oswaldtwistle site.

Mr Pike said: "The sentence was excessively lenient - I find it incredible. The magistrates sent the case to Crown Court because they believed that the maximum fine they could impose of £120,000 was not enough.

"In view of this and the fact that it was not Nipa's first offence, I think there is a case for an appeal.

"I shall be joining Greg Pope in writing to John Prescott, asking him to look into the whole issue." An Environment Agency spokesman said: "Our legal people are not convinced that there are sufficient grounds to appeal.

" Although the judge did make an error in sentencing, it was pointed out to him. There is also another case pending against Nipa which will be dealt with in due course."

Bill Goldsmith, a member of Oswaldtwistle residents group ORATE said: " I am surprised they have got off so lightly - £20,000 is a smack on the wrist rather than a kick up the backside.

"Let's hope that lessons will be learnt by Nipa and ORATE will be keeping a close watch on the situation."

Elaine Ollett, a member of the Nipa liaison committee set up by Hyndburn Council, said:"There have been a lot of positive developments since the leak and residents feel they know more about what is going on at Nipa than ever before. It would be more positive to order companies to spend money on safety upgrades than getting them to throw money away in fines."

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