British Farmer Fined for Pollution Due to Illegal Slurry Storage Collapse
Source: The DairyNews
A British dairy and arable farmer has faced legal action for causing severe environmental pollution following the collapse of an illegally constructed slurry storage facility.
A 74-year-old farmer from England's South West has been fined £15,388.40 (approximately $19,300), plus a surcharge of £114 ($143), and ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid community work after his unauthorized slurry 'dam' ruptured, leading to widespread contamination.
The Environment Agency prosecuted the case after receiving reports of pollution in the River Isle tributary in Devon in January 2023. The contamination was traced back to a slurry store made from farmyard manure, which had collapsed, releasing its entire contents.
Environment officers discovered that the slurry had traveled 400 meters (about 435 yards) from the storage site into two nearby fields and a wooded area, creating a 20-meter-wide 'track' and a 12-inch-deep 'tide wave' in some places.
During a court hearing on May 10 at Exeter Magistrates Court, Derek Dyer of Crawley Farm near Honiton pleaded guilty to causing pollution and building an illegal slurry store. He admitted that he and his son used the field for storage due to insufficient slurry capacity and delays in obtaining approval for a new store from the local planning authority. Dyer claimed that he believed the structure would hold until the slurry could be spread but heavy rainfall caused its collapse.
District Judge Smith described the act as reckless, emphasizing that Dyer, with his extensive farming experience, should have been aware of the risks. "In over 30 years of regulating farms, I have never seen such extensive contamination by slurry," remarked senior environment officer Dave Womack. "Mr. Dyer showed a flagrant disregard for the law. Regulations for constructing slurry stores have been in place since 1991, and all farmers must follow these basic requirements to prevent catastrophic events."
The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding environmental stewardship within the British dairy industry. A freedom of information request by campaigners River Action revealed that nearly 70% of inspected dairy farms in England breached environmental regulations between 2020 and 2021. Dairy farming has been identified as the largest single cause of agricultural pollution, primarily due to mishandling of slurry.
Paul Tompkins, chair of the NFU dairy board, acknowledged the industry's efforts to improve water quality through best practices in managing and storing fertilizers and manure. He stressed the importance of investment in on-farm infrastructure to reduce pollution incidents and called for greater access to government schemes like the Slurry Infrastructure Grant and fewer planning restrictions.
In the UK, constructing a new slurry store often requires full planning permission and development rights from relevant authorities. Regardless of these requirements, the local planning authority must be informed of the construction and size of the storage facility. Additionally, the Environment Agency must be notified at least 14 days before building or modifying.
Slurry stores must be appropriately located, not within 50 meters of wells or springs used for food production or drinking water. Additional regulations apply if the location is near conservation or protected areas, ensuring the safeguarding of water sources and compliance with environmental standards.
The Environment Agency prosecuted the case after receiving reports of pollution in the River Isle tributary in Devon in January 2023. The contamination was traced back to a slurry store made from farmyard manure, which had collapsed, releasing its entire contents.
Environment officers discovered that the slurry had traveled 400 meters (about 435 yards) from the storage site into two nearby fields and a wooded area, creating a 20-meter-wide 'track' and a 12-inch-deep 'tide wave' in some places.
During a court hearing on May 10 at Exeter Magistrates Court, Derek Dyer of Crawley Farm near Honiton pleaded guilty to causing pollution and building an illegal slurry store. He admitted that he and his son used the field for storage due to insufficient slurry capacity and delays in obtaining approval for a new store from the local planning authority. Dyer claimed that he believed the structure would hold until the slurry could be spread but heavy rainfall caused its collapse.
District Judge Smith described the act as reckless, emphasizing that Dyer, with his extensive farming experience, should have been aware of the risks. "In over 30 years of regulating farms, I have never seen such extensive contamination by slurry," remarked senior environment officer Dave Womack. "Mr. Dyer showed a flagrant disregard for the law. Regulations for constructing slurry stores have been in place since 1991, and all farmers must follow these basic requirements to prevent catastrophic events."
The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding environmental stewardship within the British dairy industry. A freedom of information request by campaigners River Action revealed that nearly 70% of inspected dairy farms in England breached environmental regulations between 2020 and 2021. Dairy farming has been identified as the largest single cause of agricultural pollution, primarily due to mishandling of slurry.
Paul Tompkins, chair of the NFU dairy board, acknowledged the industry's efforts to improve water quality through best practices in managing and storing fertilizers and manure. He stressed the importance of investment in on-farm infrastructure to reduce pollution incidents and called for greater access to government schemes like the Slurry Infrastructure Grant and fewer planning restrictions.
In the UK, constructing a new slurry store often requires full planning permission and development rights from relevant authorities. Regardless of these requirements, the local planning authority must be informed of the construction and size of the storage facility. Additionally, the Environment Agency must be notified at least 14 days before building or modifying.
Slurry stores must be appropriately located, not within 50 meters of wells or springs used for food production or drinking water. Additional regulations apply if the location is near conservation or protected areas, ensuring the safeguarding of water sources and compliance with environmental standards.
