I
Ian Cloke
Guest
11 September 2006
A china clay company has been ordered to pay ?3,325 in fines and costs for polluting a Dartmoor river. The stretch of the River Plym, near Cadover Bridge, north of Plymouth, was affected after white liquid entered it from the WBB Minerals' Shaugh Lake works on January 4 this year.
The Environment Agency said the substance had not been toxic, but raised fears over possible dangers to fish and wildlife.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said the leak was found during a routine inspection. Site operators stopped the clay slurry from passing through the pipes and South West Water released water from upstream Burrator Reservoir in an attempt to clear the river as quickly as possible.
The Environment Agency's Mark Jacob said: "As well as having a negative visual impact, high concentrations of clay slurry can smother the spawning grounds of fish such as salmon and sea trout.
"Companies must be vigilant and take all necessary steps to ensure our rivers and streams are not polluted by potentially harmful materials such as clay slurry."
At the time of the incident, Stephen Ward, who was accompanying his family, from Plymouth, said: "It didn't look normal. We weren't sure what it was, but it seemed such a shame it had got into the river."
WBB Minerals Ltd, of Sandbach, Cheshire, was fined ?2,000 and ordered to pay ?1,325 costs by Plymouth magistrates after pleading guilty to allowing polluting matter to enter controlled waters.
A spokesman for WWB Minerals said the leak was detected by the company's internal systems and action was immediately taken to stop it.
The firm contacted the EA immediately. The two organisations then conducted a joint investigation into the cause.
The spokesman said: "WBB Minerals has always accepted full responsibility and we feel that today's decision is a fair one. We will continue to work actively with the Environment Agency on steps to prevent any future occurrence. WBB Minerals takes its environmental responsibilities extremely seriously and we are very proud of our track-record. We deeply regret this incident but hope that our fast reaction at the time of the spillage and subsequent close liaison with the Environment Agency have helped to minimise any impact."
A china clay company has been ordered to pay ?3,325 in fines and costs for polluting a Dartmoor river. The stretch of the River Plym, near Cadover Bridge, north of Plymouth, was affected after white liquid entered it from the WBB Minerals' Shaugh Lake works on January 4 this year.
The Environment Agency said the substance had not been toxic, but raised fears over possible dangers to fish and wildlife.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said the leak was found during a routine inspection. Site operators stopped the clay slurry from passing through the pipes and South West Water released water from upstream Burrator Reservoir in an attempt to clear the river as quickly as possible.
The Environment Agency's Mark Jacob said: "As well as having a negative visual impact, high concentrations of clay slurry can smother the spawning grounds of fish such as salmon and sea trout.
"Companies must be vigilant and take all necessary steps to ensure our rivers and streams are not polluted by potentially harmful materials such as clay slurry."
At the time of the incident, Stephen Ward, who was accompanying his family, from Plymouth, said: "It didn't look normal. We weren't sure what it was, but it seemed such a shame it had got into the river."
WBB Minerals Ltd, of Sandbach, Cheshire, was fined ?2,000 and ordered to pay ?1,325 costs by Plymouth magistrates after pleading guilty to allowing polluting matter to enter controlled waters.
A spokesman for WWB Minerals said the leak was detected by the company's internal systems and action was immediately taken to stop it.
The firm contacted the EA immediately. The two organisations then conducted a joint investigation into the cause.
The spokesman said: "WBB Minerals has always accepted full responsibility and we feel that today's decision is a fair one. We will continue to work actively with the Environment Agency on steps to prevent any future occurrence. WBB Minerals takes its environmental responsibilities extremely seriously and we are very proud of our track-record. We deeply regret this incident but hope that our fast reaction at the time of the spillage and subsequent close liaison with the Environment Agency have helped to minimise any impact."