Post by Hoppy on Oct 11, 2007 20:41:19 GMT -1
Hillstation Plc, an ice-cream manufacturer in Llantarnam, has been fined £8,000 after pleading guilty to polluting Dowlais Brook with waste liquid from their factory.
The company were also ordered to pay costs of £1,126 to Environment Agency Wales, who brought the prosecution, at Abergavenny Magistrate’s Court on 4 October 2007.
The court heard that on 4 April, 2007, the Agency received reports from the public that the Dowlais Brook was “running white”. Following thorough investigations, officers traced the source of the pollution to Hillstation Plc’s factory in Llantarnam.
The officers found a tank had overflowed, spilling waste from ice-cream production on to the yard. The spillage was then being incorrectly washed down the surface water drains on site, that flowed directly to the Dowlais Brook, a tributary of the Afon Lwyd.
Hillstation Plc had been formally cautioned for a similar incident in October last year. Despite being given clear advice from the Agency, the company had not put any measures in place to reduce the risk of polluting the brook.
Following the case, Environment Officer, Jacob Birch, speaking for the Agency, said:
“The damage to the environment could have been a lot worse. The waste from the factory was at least five times more potent than sewage in taking oxygen out of the water. We were lucky, because this could have caused a major fish kill.
“Unfortunately, this incident could have been easily avoided. We had given the company the chance to put measures in place that would have stopped this from happening again. It has ended up costing them a lot more money in court.
“We also want to thank the member of the public for contacting us about this incident. They are the first line of defence when it comes to protecting their local environment.
“We encourage anyone who sees any pollution or danger to the natural environment to get in touch with us on 0800 80 70 60.”
The company were also ordered to pay costs of £1,126 to Environment Agency Wales, who brought the prosecution, at Abergavenny Magistrate’s Court on 4 October 2007.
The court heard that on 4 April, 2007, the Agency received reports from the public that the Dowlais Brook was “running white”. Following thorough investigations, officers traced the source of the pollution to Hillstation Plc’s factory in Llantarnam.
The officers found a tank had overflowed, spilling waste from ice-cream production on to the yard. The spillage was then being incorrectly washed down the surface water drains on site, that flowed directly to the Dowlais Brook, a tributary of the Afon Lwyd.
Hillstation Plc had been formally cautioned for a similar incident in October last year. Despite being given clear advice from the Agency, the company had not put any measures in place to reduce the risk of polluting the brook.
Following the case, Environment Officer, Jacob Birch, speaking for the Agency, said:
“The damage to the environment could have been a lot worse. The waste from the factory was at least five times more potent than sewage in taking oxygen out of the water. We were lucky, because this could have caused a major fish kill.
“Unfortunately, this incident could have been easily avoided. We had given the company the chance to put measures in place that would have stopped this from happening again. It has ended up costing them a lot more money in court.
“We also want to thank the member of the public for contacting us about this incident. They are the first line of defence when it comes to protecting their local environment.
“We encourage anyone who sees any pollution or danger to the natural environment to get in touch with us on 0800 80 70 60.”