Alexandra Wales - 21-Nov-2007
- A Morpeth man was fined £1,500 yesterday
(Tuesday 20th November 2007) at Tynedale
Magistrates Court in Hexham after pleading
guilty to polluting a watercourse at Riding
Farm near Bellingham.
John Goodfellow (63) of Longwitton Farm,
Longwitton near Morpeth was also ordered
to pay costs of £1,800 to the Environment
Agency which brought the case.
Paul Harley, prosecuting, told the court
that on the 13th February 2007, the Environment
Agency was notified that a small watercourse
at Bellingham appeared to be severely polluted
with sewage fungus.
When inspecting the site, an Environment
Agency officer observed there to be a significant
quantity of sewage fungus. She noted that
the pollution appeared to be a slurry-like
material passing over marshy ground at Ridings
Farm which was coming from an external cattle
pen into a surface water drain together
with silage effluent overflowing into a
purpose built drain. Dye testing confirmed
that these were the sources of the contamination.
An ecologist’s report into the pollution
indicated that it could have resulted in
suffocation and death of more sensitive
wildlife in the stream and that there had
been severe pollution for around 1km.
Commenting after the case, Deborah Evans,
environment officer at the Environment Agency
said: “I am satisfied that we have been
able to bring this matter to a successful
prosecution. Farmers need to ensure that
they have adequate facilities in place to
ensure that silage and slurry is contained
in accordance with the Code of Good Agricultural
Practice.
Ends
Notes to editors
John Goodfellow was charged that:
On or before 14th February 2007 caused polluted
matter which is namely contaminated surface
water and silage effluent to enter controlled
waters namely an un-named tributary, River
North Tyne, Bellingham contrary to Sections
85(1) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act
1991.
+ More
Environment Agency Board to discuss future
investment in water supply and sewage treatment
Head Office Press Office - 20-Nov-2007
- Future investment in water supply and
sewage treatment will be among the topics
for discussion when the Environment Agency
Board meets in Huddersfield on Wednesday,
November 21.
Every five years the water regulator, Ofwat,
carries out a periodic review of the investment
planned by water and sewage companies and,
consequently, the price customers will have
to pay for their water supply and sewage
treatment. The next review will set price
limits for 2010 - 2015.
"There are many factors that will
influence water prices, such as capital
investments, the cost of borrowing, operational
obligations and the scope to improve efficiency"
explained Environment Agency Chairman Sir
John Harman.
"It is equally important to ensure
environmental obligations are recognised.
There has been considerable reduction in
the environmental impact of water company
abstractions and discharges over the past
20 years, and this has led to an improvement
in the quality of our rivers and beaches.
"However, there is still much to do.
At the current rate of replacement it will
take some companies hundreds of years to
lay new water and sewage pipes, and build
new water treatment plants. Issues surrounding
the ever-increasing demand for water, the
effects of and climate change and further
environmental improvements are all important
and will influence the review."
The Environment Agency has identified five
broad priorities:-
Supply and demand: Further investment is
required in water efficiency measures, leakage
prevention, new resource development and
household metering, especially in areas
of water stress caused by housing and population
growth and climatic variability.
National environment programme: More investment
is needed to prevent damaging sewage discharges,
improve our rivers and beaches and to protect
habitats at risk from over abstraction.
Maintenance, improvement and protection
of infrastructure: The summer floods highlighted
the need for companies to protect their
water distribution and sewage treatment
plants.
Climate change: Water companies need to
take action on mitigation and adaptation
as they are in the front line of tackling
and managing the effects of climate change.
Reducing surface water floods in urban
areas: Urban flooding is an unpleasant mix
of water from sewers, rivers, groundwater,
and intense rain run-off from roads, roofs
and land. Responsibility for managing these
different sources of water is fragmented
between different organisations, including
water companies, local authorities and the
Environment Agency and others. The problem
will increase with development pressures,
climate change and ageing infrastructure.
The Environment Agency Board will meet
on Wednesday, November 21, 2007, from 10am
to 3pm in the English Partnership Suite,
Galpharm Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersfield.
The agenda can be discussed with Environment
Agency Chairman Sir John Harman and board
members during lunch from 1pm - 1.45pm.
The agenda and board papers can be found
at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/board
