Somerset pig farmers have been fined more than £5,000 after slurry from an illegally built lagoon, polluting nearby streams in what environmental agencies say is a “avoidable” incident.
James Mitchell of Hill Common near Taunton appeared at the Taunton Magistrate’s court on June 18th and pleaded guilty to two environmental crimes related to slurry contamination at Orchard Farm.
The Environment Agency said the contamination was caused by a slurry of pigs fleeing storage lagoons built without necessary notice or engineering evidence.
The slurry overflowed into the immersion connected to the surface water drainage system, eventually entering the oak stream.
He was fined £500, ordered to pay £4,365 costs and was given an additional £200 victim fee. The district judge gave Mitchell a full credit for his guilty plea and gave him 12 months to pay a total of £5,065.
The issue first came to light in 2021 when Mitchell invited environmental agency officers to Orchard Farm to discuss potential roof grant funding to reduce the risk of contamination.
During this visit, officers identified unapproved slurry lagoons. There were no objections to the roof work, but it became clear that the slurry store should be implemented for compliance.
In November 2023, the agency received reports of contamination in the streams of Oake. The officers traced the sauce to Orchard Farm, where it was found to be flooded with slurry and into the drainage system.
Mitchell cooperated with the investigation and took steps to prevent further pollution by building the Earth Bank, which later reinforced with clay.
A follow-up inspection in December 2023 showed that roofing work proposed in 2021 was underway and completed by January 2024.
Environment Agency David Womack emphasized that Mitchell, a veteran farmer, was “fully aware of his liability and the laws relating to the slurry storage,” especially as he contacted the agency before “this unnecessary incident happened.”
He pointed out that the rules surrounding the construction of slurry stores (requirements to notify agents in advance) have been in place for more than 30 years, stressing that it is essential for all farmers to understand and comply with these regulations.
“We don’t hesitate to take action against those who caused pollution because they were not left to our advice and guidance,” he said.
“We strongly recommend that you contact us to contact us as anyone who needs advice or wants to prevent the slurry storage facility being too small or this type of incident from occurring in the first place.”
