Still no reports of any further catches though some could have been reported to WUF from wyesham for instance. We might know tomorrow.
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Unlike NRW and the recent incidents of the Lynffi which plainly was caused by the digester based there
the EA it seems are willing and able to bring prosecutions for spills to fruition. See below.
A Pershore farm and fruit and
veg wholesaler has been fined £120,000 for polluting a river that led to the
death of around 220 fish.
Springhill Farms
LTD in Salters Lane, Lower Moor pleaded guilty at Kidderminster Magistrates
Court on Wednesday (May 25.)
Members of the public alerted the
Environment Agency in 2018 when a faulty pipe started to illegally discharge
anaerobic (fertiliser) into the warehouse from nearby Rotherdale Farm, which is
run by Springhill Farm.
The agency claimed the farm failed to
ensure nitrogen levels remained below the allowed 250kg limit per hectare in a
12-moth period on multiple fields owned by Springhill Farms.
This led to the death of around 220 fish
in Piddle Brook and another 100 at a marina further down the watercourse.
The investigation revealed that farm
employees did not maintain records of the volumes in the lagoon and had no
maintenance records either of the lagoon or pipework.
A further offence was recorded in May
2018 when foam had been reported in Piddle Brook.
A spokesperson for the Environment
Agency said:
“We always strive to work with farmers
to reduce the risk of pollution, protect the environment, and ensure they are
compliant with the regulations.
“However, where there is evidence of
serious pollution issues we will not hesitate to pursue the offenders concerned
and take tough enforcement action.
“We expect much better from such a large
and experienced farming business, both for the environment and the local
community.”
A Pershore farm and fruit and
veg wholesaler is accused of breaching pollution regulations by the Environment
Agency.
Springhill Farms
Ltd in Salters Lane, Lower Moor is facing charges for 16 alleged breaches of
Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations which relate to the spreading of
organic manure.
The agency claims it failed to ensure
nitrogen levels remained below the allowed 250kg limit per hectare in a
12-month period on multiple fields owned by the farm.
Under UK regulations, the land occupier
may only exceed that limit if the following three conditions are met:
·
Organic manure is in the form of certified
green compost or certified green/food compost.
·
The total amount of nitrogen in the form of
green compost or green/food compost which is spread on any given hectare of
land on the holding does not exceed—
(a) 500kg in any two-year period,
whether the compost is spread as mulch or incorporated into the soil, or
(b) In the case of orchard land, 1,000kg
in any four-year period if it is spread as mulch.
·
No other form of organic manure is spread over
the land in question during the applicable period
It is also facing two separate charges
for failing to comply with or contravene environmental permit conditions.
The farm is predominantly a wholesale
fruit and veg business which grows a selection of produce including tomatoes,
spring onions, asparagus and courgettes.
A case management hearing is set to take
place at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court today, however, the defendant is not
required to attend.
Springhill Farms is yet to enter a plea.
Worcester News contacted the farm for
comment, but they did not respond by our deadline.
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