The owner of a waste disposal firm says he may have to lay off staff after being fined for running his site outside of permitted hours.

Joe Henshaw has been forced to pay out around £3,700 in fines and costs after lorries were spotted going in and out of his depot on Moss Lane out of permitted hours on Saturdays.

The prosecution was brought by Cheshire East Council after a number of complaints from local residents.

Mr Henshaw told the Express he might have to make up to 10 staff redundant as a result of the enforcement.

Conditions currently in place limit operating between the hours of 7.30am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 1pm on Saturday.

Mr Henshaw applied to extend these hours, and to expand his site into land next door, but withdrew the application last year after it was recommended for refusal by planning officers.

Macclesfield Magistrates Court heard that a waste enforcement officer at Cheshire East Council, witnessed skip-hire vehicles carrying waste entering Henshaw’s waste transfer site outside of these hours, on two Saturdays in October 2012.

Cyril Henshaw, known as Joe, admitted two charges of failing to comply with a breach of condition notice at Macclesfield Magistrates Court on Friday, July 5.

The council currently has a £43,000-a-month contract with Henshaws to sort waste from its silver bins until 2014.

Mr Henshaw was fined £1,440 for the offences and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120.

He was also ordered to pay the council’s court costs of £2,193.83.

Councillor Les Gilbert, cabinet member for communities and regulatory services, said: “This prosecution sends out a clear message that we are an enforcing council and will take firm action to protect our communities from those who abuse the rules.

“This successful action follows consultation with local residents and listening to their concerns, as well as greater vigilance on this matter by the council.”

Mr Henshaw, speaking to the Express, questioned why the action had been brought now.

He said: “I have been here since 1989, working seven days a week. We are in a recession and I employ 65 people.

“I have been done for working during a recession. They are punishing me for keeping people in work.

“I am disgusted.

“They have had 24 years to bring this action, so why now?

“If we cannot work outside those hours we may have to reduce our number of workers by up to 10.

“It’s a shame.”

He said the breaches did not relate to work for the council.