Michelle
Dolphin - 26-Jun-2008 - On 24 June 2008,
Approved Quality Coatings Limited operating
at Maybrook Road, Minworth pleaded guilty
at Sutton Coldfield Magistrates Court to
a charge in relation to polluting a tributary
of Plants Brook.
The charges were brought
by the Environment Agency under the Water
Resources Act 1991. Approved Quality Coatings
Limited were fined £3,500 and ordered
to pay costs of £2519,19.
For the Environment
Agency, Kiran Cassini told the court that
Approved Quality Coatings is a firm specialising
in the chemical treatment of metals. On
23 September 2007, a park warden at Plants
Brook nature reserve in Walmley reported
to the Environment Agency that the stream
running through the nature reserve was bright
green in colour.
An Environment Agency
officer attended the site and took water
samples. The green liquid was seen in the
sewer outside the Approved Quality Coatings
site. It was found that spillages from the
tanks on the site had caused chemicals to
enter a manhole nearby that had then gone
into the brook. The water samples showed
that large amounts of chromium and aluminium
had entered the watercourse.
Speaking after the case,
a spokesperson from the Environment Agency
said: “Approved Quality Coatings failed
to take adequate precautions to contain
chemicals on their site during maintenance
work. As a result of this neglect, the Plants
Brook was polluted. In this instance we
were able to respond quickly and effectively
to minimise the impact on the watercourse
because the park warden reported the problem
to us promptly. Environmental incidents
should be reported to our 24 hour hotline
on 0800 80 70 60 and we will investigate.”
In mitigation, the Court
was told that the company had since introduced
training for all members of staff and had
also built bunds around the vats that they
used to treat metals.
Environment Agency monitors
Stoke Brook restoration
Michelle Dolphin - 23-Jun-2008
- Environment Agency officers are monitoring
the work that is being done to restore the
Stoke Brook following a discharge of sludge
eighteen months ago, to ensure that there
is minimal impact on the environment.
Plant and machinery
are now on site and the clean up has started.
It is likely that there will be some discolouration
of the river due to the works. The contractors
have installed physical barriers to keep
this to a minimum and we will be monitoring
the work closely.
The delicate nature
of the river habitat and the difficulties
in working within the river channel, required
specialist knowledge and equipment. We insisted
that Glebe Mines engage specialist consultants
and contractors to carry out the work.
We have also been working
closely with the mining company to ensure
that they restore as much of the habitat
as possible and improve their operational
procedures. Over the past few months they
have been evaluating the extent of the damage
and have undertaken scientific studies into
the impact of the material.
Last week, the Food
Standards Agency (FSA) reassured the Environment
Agency that they found no cause for concern
in test results from fish samples taken
recently from the River Derwent following
the silt incident at Glebe Mines, Stoney
Middleton, in January 2007. For more information
on the FSA report see http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/2066672).
This is the second batch
of fish samples to be checked and cleared
by the FSA since the incident, when sludge
flowed through the village. Some entered
the Stoke Brook and, from there, the River
Derwent.
The sludge settled on
the bed of the stream, blanketing the rocks
and stones. The brook is an important habitat
for Water Voles, and is a spawning ground
for native Brown Trout and Brook Lamprey.
The material, which was derived from naturally
occurring minerals, contains background
levels of certain metals such as lead. We
will continue to look at the impacts of
these contaminants but to date have not
identified any toxic effects on river life.
Mark Cunningham, Team
Leader, who has been leading the investigation
said "This has been a difficult and
challenging incident for all parties involved.
Hopefully we are now moving to the final
phase and we will see the river restored
to its former glory. We will continue monitoring
the river for a number of years to ensure
that we are certain that there have been
no long term effects".
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Environment Agency monitors
Stoke Brook restoration
Michelle Dolphin - 23-Jun-2008
- Environment Agency officers are monitoring
the work that is being done to restore the
Stoke Brook following a discharge of sludge
eighteen months ago, to ensure that there
is minimal impact on the environment.
Plant and machinery
are now on site and the clean up has started.
It is likely that there will be some discolouration
of the river due to the works. The contractors
have installed physical barriers to keep
this to a minimum and we will be monitoring
the work closely.
The delicate nature
of the river habitat and the difficulties
in working within the river channel, required
specialist knowledge and equipment. We insisted
that Glebe Mines engage specialist consultants
and contractors to carry out the work.
We have also been working
closely with the mining company to ensure
that they restore as much of the habitat
as possible and improve their operational
procedures. Over the past few months they
have been evaluating the extent of the damage
and have undertaken scientific studies into
the impact of the material.
Last week, the Food
Standards Agency (FSA) reassured the Environment
Agency that they found no cause for concern
in test results from fish samples taken
recently from the River Derwent following
the silt incident at Glebe Mines, Stoney
Middleton, in January 2007. For more information
on the FSA report see http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/2066672).
This is the second batch
of fish samples to be checked and cleared
by the FSA since the incident, when sludge
flowed through the village. Some entered
the Stoke Brook and, from there, the River
Derwent.
The sludge settled on
the bed of the stream, blanketing the rocks
and stones. The brook is an important habitat
for Water Voles, and is a spawning ground
for native Brown Trout and Brook Lamprey.
The material, which was derived from naturally
occurring minerals, contains background
levels of certain metals such as lead. We
will continue to look at the impacts of
these contaminants but to date have not
identified any toxic effects on river life.
Mark Cunningham, Team
Leader, who has been leading the investigation
said "This has been a difficult and
challenging incident for all parties involved.
Hopefully we are now moving to the final
phase and we will see the river restored
to its former glory. We will continue monitoring
the river for a number of years to ensure
that we are certain that there have been
no long term effects".
+ More
One year on Environment
Agency continues to tackle flood risk in
Staffordshire
Michelle Dolphin - 26-Jun-2008
- One year on from unprecedented rainfall
which led to flooding in Staffordshire the
Environment Agency has been working tirelessly
to minimise the risks of flooding to people
and their homes.
Across England and Wales
34 new flood defences have been built, increasing
protection to 30,000 homes. A further £1billion
will be invested over the next three years
on schemes to improve protection to at least
another 145,000 households.
Officers in the Midlands
have been working non-stop over the last
12 months inspecting and maintaining the
1,200km of defences on just over 4,680km
of river. They have also been working with
local communities, gathering information,
advising people how to prepare for flooding,
and planning new defences to help protect
more households and businesses.
Throughout the region
nearly 2000 people attended the 32 flood
surgeries and public meetings held in the
weeks after the floods. People shared their
experiences and were encouraged to sign
up to receive the Environment Agency flood
warning service.
Despite this, people
in the Region are still not doing enough
to protect themselves from flooding. Over
70% of people whose homes are located in
river floodplains, and are therefore at
real risk of suffering the devastating effects
of having floodwater in their houses, have
still not joined the Environment Agency’s
warning systems. Warnings will not prevent
the floods, but they can, and do, give people
time to ensure their families, valuables
or treasured items are protected.
On the Sandiford Brook
in Stafford, work is taking place to see
if the flood water storage area can be improved
to offer increased protection. At Aston
Chase a new scheme is being designed to
reduce the risk to properties in the area.
In Elford a new pumping station has been
commissioned which should reduce the risk
of the village flooding from the Green Brook.
A new floodwall has been constructed to
protect a number of properties alongside
the Bourne Brook in Fazeley.
Flood Risk Manager,
John Buckingham said “We are committed to
protecting communities from the distress
and damage caused by flooding. Over the
past year, we have worked very hard to reduce
flood risk for the people who flooded last
summer and we will continue to do everything
in our power to defend them.
“However, there is a
lot that individuals can do to reduce the
personal trauma that occurs when their homes
are inundated with water. Our flood warnings
can give them a few valuable hours in which
they can take action. They can have our
warnings sent to almost any media, such
as a call to their mobile while at work,
to warn them that they may want to return
home to prepare. There is advice on our
website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk
about what you can do to reduce the risk.
This advice is also available by calling
Floodline on 0845 988 1188.”
+ More
One year on Environment
Agency continues to tackle flood risk in
Worcestershire
Michelle Dolphin - 26-Jun-2008
- One year on from unprecedented rainfall
which led to widespread flooding in Worcestershire
the Environment Agency has been working
tirelessly to minimise the risks of flooding
to people and their homes.
Across England and Wales
34 new flood defences have been built, increasing
protection to 30,000 homes. A further £1billion
will be invested over the next three years
on schemes to improve protection to at least
another 145,000 households.
Officers in the Midlands
have been working non-stop over the last
12 months inspecting and maintaining the
1,200km of defences in just over 4,680km
of river. They have also been working with
local communities, gathering information,
advising people how to prepare for flooding,
and planning new defences to help protect
more households and businesses.
In Bewdley work will
start this summer to widen a 150m section
of Riddings Brook to improve the flow of
the water. In Upton we are looking at the
possibility of permanent flood defences,
as well as looking at what further measures
can be taken to protect residents in Evesham
and Pershore.
Two silted arches under
the A44 road bridge at the end of Buckingham
Grove, Worcester have been opened up to
allow the water to flow through, and plan
to start work on a new flood bank on Hylton
Road this summer, subject to planning permission.
Throughout the Midlands
region 1,833 people attended the 32 flood
surgeries held in the weeks after the floods.
People shared their experiences and were
encouraged to sign up to receive the Environment
Agency flood warning service.
Despite this, people
in Worcestershire are still not doing enough
to help themselves prepare for flooding.
Although 6,304 people in the Midlands region
have signed up for flood warning since summer
2007, there are still only 28% of people
at risk of flooding in the region who are
signed up for Flood Warnings Direct. This
means that many people may not have time
to take the necessary precautions to protect
themselves, their families and possessions
when flooding occurs.
Flood Risk Manager,
Anthony Perry, said “We are committed to
protecting communities from the distress
and damage caused by flooding. Over the
past year, we have worked very hard to reduce
flood risk for the people who flooded last
summer and we will continue to do everything
in our power to defend them.
“However, for
anyone living in floodplain areas, even
communities with flood defences, flooding
is a natural event and cannot be prevented
completely. We need people to work with
us to reduce the risks by joining our flood
warning service, and making the simple preparations
that would help protect their families and
treasured possessions. There is advice on
our website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk
about what you can do to reduce the risk.
This advice is also available by calling
Floodline on 0845 988 1188.”
