I
Ian Cloke
Guest
A Devon-based abattoir company has pleaded guilty to causing a serious pollution incident that contaminated part of the River Tone at Taunton with diesel oil. The case was brought by the Environment Agency.
Stillman?s (Somerset) Ltd, of Foxhill Farm, Blackborough, Cullompton today agreed to pay legal and pollution clean-up costs of more than ?3,400 following the prosecution.
The spillage was reported on December 22, 2005 by a member of the public after they saw oil flowing down Norton Brook at Roughmoor, Taunton.
Agency officers attended the scene and traced the pollution to Stillman?s Abattoir at Staplegrove Mills where they found fuel oil entering the Back Stream through a pipe in the bank. The surrounding stream had a ?thick covering? of red diesel and there was a strong smell of fuel in the air.
The oil was leaking from the abattoir?s surface water drainage system. Inside the yard was a large diesel storage tank. When examined, a valve on a flexible pipe leading from the tank was found to have been left open. There was no lock on the tank or valve.
A boom was deployed on the Back Stream to prevent the spillage going further downstream and samples taken that later showed the pollutant to be diesel/heating oil.
The abattoir owners brought in contractors to clean up the spillage and prevent further pollution. As a precautionary measure the Agency deployed additional booms and absorbant pads downstream of the site.
A court heard that approximately 5.5 km of local watercourses were affected by the spill including the Back Stream, Norton Brook, River Tone and Taunton and Bridgwater Canal. The Environment Agency received calls from several members of the public concerned about the pollution.
?This was a serious incident that resulted in the emptying of a large tank of fuel oil into the surrounding environment. Businesses must ensure any fuel on their premises is stored safely and securely and carry out regular maintenance checks to prevent spillages,? said Catherine Lockwood for the Environment Agency.
Stillman?s pleaded guilty to causing polluting matter to enter controlled waters at Staplegrove Mills, Taunton on December 22, 2006 contrary to Section 85(1) of the Water Resources Act 1991. The company was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay ?1,626 in legal costs by Taunton magistrates. The company also faces clean-up costs of ?1,780.
Stillman?s (Somerset) Ltd, of Foxhill Farm, Blackborough, Cullompton today agreed to pay legal and pollution clean-up costs of more than ?3,400 following the prosecution.
The spillage was reported on December 22, 2005 by a member of the public after they saw oil flowing down Norton Brook at Roughmoor, Taunton.
Agency officers attended the scene and traced the pollution to Stillman?s Abattoir at Staplegrove Mills where they found fuel oil entering the Back Stream through a pipe in the bank. The surrounding stream had a ?thick covering? of red diesel and there was a strong smell of fuel in the air.
The oil was leaking from the abattoir?s surface water drainage system. Inside the yard was a large diesel storage tank. When examined, a valve on a flexible pipe leading from the tank was found to have been left open. There was no lock on the tank or valve.
A boom was deployed on the Back Stream to prevent the spillage going further downstream and samples taken that later showed the pollutant to be diesel/heating oil.
The abattoir owners brought in contractors to clean up the spillage and prevent further pollution. As a precautionary measure the Agency deployed additional booms and absorbant pads downstream of the site.
A court heard that approximately 5.5 km of local watercourses were affected by the spill including the Back Stream, Norton Brook, River Tone and Taunton and Bridgwater Canal. The Environment Agency received calls from several members of the public concerned about the pollution.
?This was a serious incident that resulted in the emptying of a large tank of fuel oil into the surrounding environment. Businesses must ensure any fuel on their premises is stored safely and securely and carry out regular maintenance checks to prevent spillages,? said Catherine Lockwood for the Environment Agency.
Stillman?s pleaded guilty to causing polluting matter to enter controlled waters at Staplegrove Mills, Taunton on December 22, 2006 contrary to Section 85(1) of the Water Resources Act 1991. The company was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay ?1,626 in legal costs by Taunton magistrates. The company also faces clean-up costs of ?1,780.