17-May-2006 - The Environment
Agency has unreservedly apologised after work
being carried out on its behalf by a contractor
killed hundreds of fish in a tributary of the
River Exe in Somerset last year. The Agency was
ordered to pay a total of £8966 in fines
and costs today at Exeter Crown Court.
A 150 metre stretch of river
was affected around Friday, 2 September 2005 when
water containing concrete was pumped into the
River Barle from a gauging station construction
site. Around 300 dead fish were found mainly bullheads
but also including some salmon, trout, loach and
greyling.
The work was being done for
the Environment Agency by one of its national
contractors, May Gurney Ltd.
An earlier hearing at Cullompton
magistrates court on April 10, 2006 heard both
defendants plead guilty to causing polluting matter
to enter the River Barle contrary to Section 4
of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
The case, which was brought privately by River
Exe riparian owner Ian Cook, was referred to crown
court for sentencing.
Today Judge Jeremy Griggs heard
how the Environment Agency immediately instructed
all work on the site to stop and investigated
the pollution. It found concrete grout had got
into pumps on the construction site and untreated
water had been pumped back into the river.
‘We unreservedly apologise for
this incident. We deeply regret the pollution
and fish kill particularly as our whole business
is about protecting and improving the environment.
Our daily work is along the riverbank and we strive
to do this to the highest standards,’ said Martin
Weiler for the Environment Agency.
‘We have learned lessons and
improved our procedures and practices for managing
contractors. Our surveys show the river has made
a very good recovery with a healthy population
of fish and other river life now present in the
affected area.’
Sentencing Judge Griggs said
that it was clearly very serious and the Agency
was ashamed and embarrassed. It accepted liability
was strict and had no option but to plead guilty
and gave credit for that. He accepted damage had
not proved widespread or long-standing.
The Environment Agency was fined
£7,500 plus £1,466 costs. Its contractor,
May Gurney Ltd, was fined £27,500 plus £1,466
costs.
