£14,000 bill for pig slurry in water way

Wednesday 17th February 2010, 10:32AM GMT.

courtroom hammer A landowner has to pay more than £14,000 for polluting a Mid Wales stream. Elwyn Gwyn Lewis, 59, of Mount Street, Welshpool admitted polluting the water way with pig slurry.

He was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £6,884.46 costs and a £15 victim surcharge for the offence at Cyfronydd Brook, by magistrates at Welshpool.

Jill Crawford, prosecuting, said on August 16, 2006, officers from the Environment Agency were called to inspect a tributary of the Afon Banwy, known as the Cyfronydd Brook, after receiving a report of pollution.

A water sample was taken from the brook and showed the water quality was poor.

Investigations continued at Hydan Fawr, Cyfronydd, near Welshpool.

A large area of land was heavily contaminated with pig slurry and dirty water which was flowing into the Cyfronydd Brook. Officers also saw the pig slurry entering a tributary of the Cyfronydd Brook through a white plastic pipe. The pipe was hidden in a trench with chippings lying on the top.

Owain Jones, for Lewis, told the court Lewis was only the landowner when the incident occurred and had not been living at Hydan Fawr.

The land was being rented out to a pig company and it was claimed the incident occurred due to pigs chewing through the pipes.

Speaking after the case, Jason Jones, an Environment Agency officer, said anyone experiencing problems with slurry should call the Environment Agency on (08708) 506506.

View more: Mid Wales news, Powys news.