The Farmers Mart Oct-Nov 2018 - Issue 59 | Page 10

10 FARM NEWS OCT/NOV 2018 • farmers-mart.co.uk £14,000 POLLUTION PENALTY FOR STAFFORDSHIRE FARM In a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency, B&M Elkin & Son Ltd (the Company) of Hall Farm, Hilderstone, Staffordshire pleaded guilty to three charges of breaching environmental regulations following two pollution incidents and failing to provide adequate effluent storage. A second incident occurred on 30 June 2016, when effluent entered Wheatlow Brook, which was found to be brown and frothy in appearance. THE first incident occurred in Sept 2015 following a report of farm effluent discharging to the Gayton Brook, Milwich for several days. Investigators discovered that farm slurry had escaped from a gap in the storage pit. The incident caused effluent to run across the farm and into the brook, which was found to be green/brown in colour with a white foam, with a foul odour present. Approximately 3000 fish were killed in this incident. 69945 - BelmontRegencyLtd - HALF.pdf 1 ‘ insufficient storage capacity ’ Hall Farm is within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone which means the farm must comply with strict slurry storage capacity. Environment 04/04/2018 14:29:21 Agency officers advised the com- pany that there was insufficient storage capacity and that they were in breach of the Nitrate Pollu- tion Prevention Regulations 2010. The company was fined £7,000 and ordered to pay £7,100 costs and a victim surcharge of £120. In mitigation, consideration had been given that the business has been operating for 30 years with- out incident. The company had also cooperated with the Environ- ment Agency and pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity. In addition, B&M Elkin & Sons Ltd had voluntarily paid £1,000 to the local wildlife trust and had spent over £20,000 in improvements and remediation at their site. www.gov.uk/environment-agency FARM Sample Comprehensive Premiums from: Pickups, vans and lorries can be added to fleet policies If you want us to search for the most competitive rates, contact us for a quotation – Hundreds of Farmers have benefited from savings. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Value: £7,000 On Fleet: £122.52 Value: £15,000 On Fleet: £231.18 Trailers and implements included cover @BelmontRegency from: £175.00 Comprehensive FINANCIAL ADVICE Our advisers can provide advice on all the services shown below Leek Farmer reduced premiums from £1,357 to £941 Chester Farmer reduced premiums from £5,100 to £3,812 Address: Victoria House, 24-28 St Peter’s Churchyard, Derby, Derbyshire DE1 1NN ::   MOTOR : : TRACTORS :::: THE FARMER’S INSURANCE BROKER SINCE 1982 T H E FA R M E R ’ S I N S U R A N C E B R O K E R Since 1982 t: [phone] e: [email protected] www.belmontregency.com Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority @BelmontRegency