Farmer fined over slurry
A Shropshire farmer has been fined £5,000 after admitting slurry from his farm could have leaked into a nearby river. A Shropshire farmer has been fined £5,000 after admitting slurry from his farm could have leaked into a nearby river. Simon Brown, of Poplars Farm, Brockton, near Much Wenlock, pleaded guilty to the charge under the Water Resources Act (1991) relating to the River Corve. Brown has overall responsibility for the farm which trades as E G Brown and Sons. He admitted at Telford magistrates court yesterday that a slurry leak from the lagoon on the farm could have got into the river via a land drain. Read the full story in the Shropshire Star
Brown has overall responsibility for the farm which trades as E G Brown and Sons.
He admitted at Telford magistrates court yesterday that a slurry leak from the lagoon on the farm could have got into the river via a land drain.
Jill Robson, of the Environment Agency, told the court that Brown was one of four partners and that he owned most of the land at the farm.
The court heard that on February 6 last year an Environment Agency officer visited the River Corve at Shipton after receiving reports that the river smelled of slurry and had a brown discolouration.
The next day two officers re-visited the site and found dead fish in the River Corve near Poplars Farm.
A trail of dead invertebrates led to a ditch near the slurry lagoon at the farm.
Here officers inspected the site further and took photographs and samples of the water.
Analysis on the samples showed that a slurry leak from Poplars Farm had caused pollution on the River Corve downstream of the farm.
Speaking after the case, Adam Shipp, an Environment Agency officer involved in the investigation, said: "Slurry and manure are very polluting to the water environment. They cause oxygen to be removed from the water and they contain ammonia, which is very toxic to fish.
"On this occasion fish and invertebrates died as a result of the slurry pollution from Poplars Farm.
"In the light of this serious incident we would ask farmers to inspect any lagoons or stores for leaks and when they are spreading slurry to check land drains, streams or brooks for any signs of contamination," he added.
Brown, 60, was also ordered to pay costs of £1,500.
He had previously agreed to pay the Environment Agency's investigative costs of £4,312 under the Polluter Pays Principle.
By Dani Webb
