UK companies fined for Aeron pollution
21 Aug 2002
Three companies who trade at premises in Felinfach, Lampeter, Cardiganshire have been fined a total of £9,000 in cases brought at Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court on August 13 2002. They were also ordered to pay costs totalling over £1,900 to Environment Agency Wales who brought the prosecutions.
Sensient Flavors Wales Ltd and Volac International Ltd each pleaded guilty to breaching conditions of a consent to discharge uncontaminated surface water to the River Aeron, contrary to Section 85(6) of the UK Water Resources Act 1991 (WRA '91). The offences were committed between June 28 2001 and July 4 2001.The companies were each fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £411 costs each.
The Court heard that extensive sewage fungus growth in the river was attributed to the discharge from the two factories. The Agency acknowledged that they had received the full co-operation of the companies in investigating the incident and that engineering and procedural improvements had already been instigated to prevent any possible re occurrence.
Aeron Valley Cheese Ltd pleaded guilty to a charge of causing polluting matter to enter the River Aeron on or about 25 July 2001 contrary to Section 85(1) of WRA '91. The Court heard that Agency officers traced extensive sewage fungus growths in the river to a discharge from a land drain pipe at the factory. The company was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,100.
Effluent had overflowed from recently installed effluent balancing tanks, soaked into the ground and entered a land drain which discharged to a nearby watercourse. The Agency again acknowledged the full co-operation of the company in investigating the incident and instigating remedial measures. The company explained that since the incident the design of the tanks had been modified to ensure a similar incident could not recur.
Speaking after the case an Agency spokesperson commented: 'We are pleased with the result of today's court case. It emphasises the need for firms to ensure stringent pollution control systems are in place. We are particularly pleased that appropriate measures have been taken by all three companies to prevent a recurrence of the incidents.'
