Rita Penman - 15-May-2007
- J K Environmental & Sons were today
fined £2500, and ordered to pay £3083
in costs, for polluting a tributary of the
Grunty Fen Catchwater Drain, on 17 November
2005, with contaminated waste liquid in
contravention of Section 85(1) of the Water
Resources Act 1991.
The court, sitting at Ely Magistrates,
heard that a J K Environmental wastewater
tanker discharged its contents directly
into a watercourse near Wilburton, Cambridgeshire.
The pollution caused was found to be three
to four times the polluting strength of
raw sewage and had a significant effect
on water quality in the area.
J K Environmental & Sons Ltd. of Orchard
Road, Royston, Hertfordshire had pleaded
guilty to the offence on 27 March 2007at
a previous hearing at Ely Magistrates Court.
The alleged driver of the tanker involved
in the incident, also appeared in court
today and pleaded not guilty to a charge
under Section 85(1) of the Water Resources
Act 1991 and a date is to be set for his
trial.
On Thursday 17 November two members of
the pubic saw a tanker parked on a road
siding on Station Road, Wilburton. They
both reported to the Environment Agency
that they had seen the tanker discharging
a dark coloured liquid at a high flow rate
from the vehicle, and although they didn't
have the registration number, they had seen
the words 'JK Environmental' on the side
of the tanker.
Within 20 minutes of receiving the report,
Environment Agency officers arrived at the
site but found that the lorry had left.
The officers found evidence that the ground
had been disturbed where the force of the
flow had eroded the surface and sewage related
debris was found on the ground. Samples
were taken from the affected watercourse
and it was found that the polluting matter,
a dark coloured turbid matter, had the pollution
strength of between three and four times
that of raw, untreated sewage and that the
liquid had potentially toxic levels of ammonia
in each sample over the 100m stretch that
was sampled.
Two weeks later various documents, including
worksheets and personnel logsheets, were
seized from JK Environmental's office in
Royston. On a further visit, a specialist
on GPS tracking systems went with Environment
Agency officers and extracted tracking data
from a computer. This showed the route one
of JK Environmental's vehicles had taken
and a stop it made at the same location,
date and time as the reports were received
from members of the public.
Prior to the incident occurring, the GPS
tracking device, fitted to the tanker showed
the vehicle had stopped at a number of nearby
mobile home sites known to have septic tanks.
Commenting on the case, Phil Henderson,
Senior Environment Officer with the Environment
Agency said, "We are concerned that
the company didn't have a system or sufficient
supervision in place to ensure that its
vehicles and equipment couldn't be used
like this. The offence was committed deliberately
by an employee, using a company vehicle,
with company equipment, on company time
and therefore the company must bear some
responsibility for the incident”. This fact
has been recognised by the court.
“It appears that the employee deliberately
discharged sewage matter from the vehicle
causing serious pollution of a fenland watercourse
and we are pleased that the company accepted
responsibility for this incident and entered
a timely guilty plea. The use of modern
technology in this case highlights the means
we are now able to use to trace and identify
offenders who seek to ignore regulations
in place to protect the environment”.
Charges;
On Thursday 17 November 2005 J. K Environmental
& Sons Ltd caused poisonous, noxious
or polluting matter to enter a tributary
of the Grunty Fen Catchwater drain.
Contrary to Section 85(1) of the Water
Resources Act 1991
+ More
Where’s Dave? as Environment Agency launches
its latest television campaign promoting
rod licences.
Head Office Press Office - 18-May-2007
- Where’s Dave? as Environment Agency launches
its latest television campaign promoting
rod licences.
Lights, cameras, action! "Where’s
Dave? He’s not coming. Landed himself a
big one. In court. A big fine and a criminal
record. For not having a rod licence."
The Environment Agency’s latest television
campaign promoting rod licences starts today
and will run until June 22, and then again
from July 20 - August 3.
It features three anglers; two of whom
are enjoying a day out on the riverbank,
while the third sits a home ruing his court
appearance, fine and criminal record…all
because he did not buy a rod licence.
The 30 second and 10 second advertisements
will run during the evenings on the Sky
and Discovery channels supporting many of
the country’s favourite angling programmes
and presenters, including Rex Hunt, Record
Beakers, Hooked on Fishing, Nick Hancock,
Go Fishing, Tales from the Riverbank, Total
Fishing, John Wilson and the Great Rod Race.
It is expected the campaign will reach
about 20% of adults, and has been timed
to coincide with the start of summer when
many anglers will dust off their rods, lines,
floats and nets and head for the water,
but who might, in their enthusiasm to get
casting, forget to buy a rod licence.
Fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish
and eels in England and Wales and the Border
Esk in Scotland requires a licence from
the Environment Agency. Failure to have
a licence is an offence. Those caught fishing
illegally face tough penalties, including
fines of up to £2,500 and a ban from
fishing.
"Rod licence fees are essential in
improving and maintaining our fisheries.
Last year we invested approximately £29
million in fishing, with £19 million
of this coming from rod licence fees paid
by anglers," explained Head of Fisheries
Dafydd Evans.
"However, a number of anglers believed
a licence was valid for 12 months from the
date of purchase. This is not the case.
All rod licences expire on March 31."
For 2007/2008 a full season coarse and
trout fishing licence costs just £24.50
and a salmon and sea trout licence costs
£66.50. There is also a range of concessionary,
junior, eight-day and one day licences.
The almost three million people who receive
Disability Living Allowance in England and
Wales are eligible for a half price fishing
licence from April 1, 2007.
Buying a new licence couldn’t be easier
- around 15,000 Post Offices and other outlets
sell them; a direct debit can be set up,
and they can be purchased over the phone
(0870 1662662) or on-line at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/rodlicence
any time, day or night.
