A FARM and fruit and veg wholesaler has been fined £120,000 for polluting a river that led to the death of around 220 fish near Redditch.
Springhill Farms LTD in Salters Lane, Lower Moor, Pershore, pleaded guilty at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday (May 25.)
Members of the public alerted the Environment Agency in 2018 when a faulty pipe started to illegally discharge anaerobic (fertiliser) into the warehouse from nearby Rotherdale Farm, which is run by Springhill Farm.
The agency claimed the farm failed to ensure nitrogen levels remained below the allowed 250kg limit per hectare in a 12-moth period on multiple fields owned by Springhill Farms.
Magistrates court-ordered Springhill Farms to pay £28,125.19 from the total cost.
Springhill Farms also used a lagoon to store digestate and used an underground pump to spread liquid as fertiliser.
This led to the death of around 220 fish in Piddle Brook, near Redditch, and another 100 at a marina further down the watercourse.
The investigation revealed that farm employees did not maintain records of the volumes in the lagoon and had no maintenance records either of the lagoon or pipework.
A further offence was recorded in May 2018 when foam had been reported in Piddle Brook.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We always strive to work with farmers to reduce the risk of pollution, protect the environment, and ensure they are compliant with the regulations.
“However, where there is evidence of serious pollution issues we will not hesitate to pursue the offenders concerned and take tough enforcement action.
“We expect much better from such a large and experienced farming business, both for the environment and the local community.”
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