Michelle Dolphin - 28-Sep-2007
On 25 September 2007 Powerfuel PLC of Hatfield
Colliery, Stainforth, South Yorkshire, were
found guilty at Doncaster Magistrates Court
to one charge relating to the pollution
of the Pissy Beds Drain, Stainforth.
The charge was brought by the Environment
Agency under section 85 of the Water Resources
Act 1991. Powerfuel PLC were fined £2000.00
and ordered to pay costs of £2981.25.
For the Environment Agency, Dermot Scully
told the court that on 8 June 2006 Environment
Agency officers were called to an incident
at the Pissy Beds Drain down stream of the
Hatfield Colliery. The drain was polluted
and like tomato soup in colour. When officers
went to Hatfield Colliery later that day,
the lagoons in the colliery were bright
orange and water was still being discharged.
The analysis indicated that there was too
much iron in the water and breached the
conditions of the discharge consent.
Environment Agency officers took samples
of the water and it was found that the iron
content was nine times over the consent
limit.
On 12 June 2006, the Environment Agency
observed 62 dead fish in the South Soak
Drain at Wyke Well Bridge, Thorne. It is
likely that elevated ammonia and metal toxicity
caused their deaths.
Environment Agency officers interviewed
Powerfuel PLC on 25 July 2006. During the
interview Powerfuel PLC admitted that they
had discharged water from the lagoons that
was out of consent and they had attempted
to control the quality of the water.
In mitigation, Charles Killin told the
court that the company had done everything
in its power to keep the discharge within
the consent limits but, regrettably, it
had failed.
Speaking after the case, Richard Hardy,
an Environment Agency officer involved in
the investigation said: “This was a serious
incident that lead to the death of fish.
Iron and ammonia can irritate fish’s gills
and can enter the fish causing a poison
effect. We hope the company takes steps
to ensure that this does not happen again.
We will not hesitate to take enforcement
action if companies pollute the environment
”
+ More
Final Environment Agency flood drop in
sessions announced
Michelle Dolphin - 25-Sep-2007
The Environment Agency is inviting people
living in areas affected by the recent floods
to come to one of the final phase of drop
in sessions, which take place during October
2007 in Shropshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
and Gloucestershire.
Our staff will be on hand to answer questions
about the flooding, the clean-up operation
and future plans to manage flood risk in
their area. We will be inviting other agencies
to take part so that, together, we can provide
as much information as possible to local
residents.
Flood Risk Manager, Anthony Perry, says:
“In recent months we have seen the heaviest
and most intense rainfall for many years.
The widespread flooding that resulted caused
major disruption and misery to many people.
“We worked around the clock with emergency
services and other agencies to defend communities
and vital facilities against the flooding.
We also helped to get people’s lives back
to normal as quickly as possible.
“As the water levels receded we remained
active in the clean up operation. We have
also been stepping up our efforts to talk
to local communities and answer their questions
about the flooding in their area.”
All drop in sessions will be open between
3pm and 8pm, except the session at Bishops
Cleeve and Chipping Camden which will be
open between 3.30pm and 8pm. People are
welcome to call in at any time between those
hours.
Arrangements are now in place for the following
(final) sessions:
Southam: Tuesday 25 September – Main Hall,
Southam Town Council, The Grange Hall, Coventry
Street, Southam CV47 1QA for people living
in Southam, Long Itchington, Bishops Itchington,
Marton and surrounding areas.
Warwick and Leamington Spa: Wednesday 26
September – Leamington Spa Town Hall, Assembly
Room, The Parade, Leamington Spa CV32 4AT
for residents of Warwick, Leamington Spa,
Marton, Birdingbury, Grandborough, Cubbington
and surrounding areas.
Kenilworth: Thursday 27 September – MacDonald
De Montfort Hotel, The Kenilworth Suite,
The Square, Abbey End, Kenilworth, CV8 1ED
for people living in Kenilworth, Stoneleigh
and surrounding areas.
Lydney: Thursday 2 October – Severnbanks
Primary School, Naas Lane, Lydney GL15 5AU
for residents of Lydney and surrounding
areas.
Redditch: Thursday 4 October – The Forum,
St Stephens Church, Church Green, Redditch,
B97 4DY for residents of Redditch and surrounding
areas.
Droitwich: Saturday 6 October – John Corbett
Room, Community Hall, Heritage Way, Droitwich,
WR9 8RF for people living in Droitwich and
the surrounding areas.
Bishop’s Cleeve: Monday 8 October – Infants
Hall, Bishops Cleeve Primary School, Tobyfield
Road, Bishop’s Cleeve, Cheltenham, GL52
8NN for people living in the Bishops Cleeve,
Prestbury and Woodmancote area. Please note
that this drop in session is open from 3.30pm
to 8pm.
Dursley: Wednesday 10 October – Cam Congregational
Church, Church Hall Church Rd, Upper Cam,
Dursley, GL11 5PG for residents of Dursley,
Cam, Nailsworth and surrounding areas.
Stroud: Friday 12 October – Old Town Hall,
The Shambles, Stroud, GL5 1AP, for people
living in Stroud, Stonehouse and surrounding
areas.
Ledbury: Thursday 18 October – The Burgage
Hall, Church Lane, Ledbury, HR8 1DW for
residents of Ledbury, Bosbury and surrounding
areas.
Chipping Camden: Friday 19 October – Primary
School Hall, St Catharine’s RC Primary School,
Lower High St, Chipping Campden, GL55 6DZ
for people living in Chipping Campden, Pebworth,
Honeybourne and surrounding areas. Please
note that this drop in session is open from
3.30pm to 8pm.
The drop-in session in Chipping Campden
on 19 October will be the final opportunity
for people to attend. Although sessions
specifically target local areas, people
are welcome to drop in to the session that
is most convenient for them.
If anyone needs more information about
a venue, or has difficulty in getting there,
they can call the Information Line on 0121
711 5995. We will answer their questions
straight away, or make arrangements to put
them in touch with someone who can help.
We are also interested in seeing any photographs
of the flooding that people may have taken,
which help us to extend knowledge of how
floods develop. Relevant information and
photographs may be e-mailed to midsflood07@environment-agency.gov.uk.
