Simon
Parrock - 24-Oct-2006 - Potentially damaging silt
was allowed to get into a beck at a Conservation
Area after a company failed to ensure contractors
were carrying out the work correctly.
Penrith magistrates were told
yesterday (Monday) that Capita Symonds Ltd was
supposed to make periodic checks to ensure work
was being done correctly on a stretch of Gategill
Beck, near Threlkeld in Cumbria.
But when an Environment Agency
officer visited the site he discovered a makeshift
dam installed to protect the river environment
had partially collapsed and was allowing silt
to flow down the beck into the River Glenderamackin,
potentially damaging to fish spawning grounds.
Following a trial, Capita Symonds
Ltd was found guilty of two environmental offences
in a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency.
The company was fined a total of £6,000
and ordered to pay costs of £3,425.
The court heard that Capita
Symonds Ltd, of Kingmoor Business Park, Carlisle,
had applied to the Environment Agency on behalf
of Cumbria County Council to remove gravel from
70 metres of the beck, and had made the arrangements
for the work to be carried out.
It was agreed that two sandbag
dams would be used to allow the gravel to be removed
and keep the water flowing in the beck, but preventing
the heavier silt from flowing down the watercourse
and damaging important salmon breeding areas.
The silt would be pumped out
later before the dams were removed - restoring
the natural flow in the beck.
Under the terms of a working
arrangement with Cumbria County Council, Capita
Symonds Ltd was supposed to carry out periodic
site visits.
But the day after the dam was
installed an Environment Agency officer discovered
problems with it which could have caused damage
to the environment if not corrected quickly.
In its defence, the company
said the work on the beck was carried out by a
contractor.
It told magistrates that once
the problem with the dam was discovered an extra
layer of sandbags was placed on top to solve it.
Floor, 21-24 Millbank, London SW1P 4XL. The closing
date is 31 January 2007.
