A Harrogate businessman has been fined for illegally burning waste. Boyd Batchelor, from Harrogate, pleaded guilty after he was charged under the Clean Air Act 1993 when dark smoke was spotted near Knaresborough. North Yorkshire Council said Batchelor failed to respond to requests to explain why dark smoke was coming from his premises. Magistrates fined Batchelor £1,153. Following sentencing, Cllr Richard Foster, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for environment, said: