TWO farms have given £8,000 to the Westcountry Rivers Trust after polluting the River Allen. 

C.P.Button Ltd in St Tudy, Cornwall, agreed to contribute to the charity after an investigation by the Environment Agency. Half a mile of the River Allen had been polluted with silage leachate from Polshea Farm in June 2022.

And there was an incident of slurry pollution at Bokelly Farm near Trelill in March 2023. 

The farmers contributed the money under an Enforcement Undertaking, which is a legal agreement between the Environment Agency and an offender as an alternative action to prosecution or other monetary penalty. In addition, the company has also paid £3,000 in investigation costs.

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The Westcountry Rivers Trust is planning to use the money to improve migratory fish habitats.

Jack Hale, of the Environment Agency, said: “Our investigation and subsequent farm infrastructure audit has driven significant investment on the farm including drainage surveys and a covered silage clamp, with further development planned, all of which should prevent future pollution cases.

“Enforcement Undertakings, when appropriate, allow a better resolution for the environment than a prosecution and help offenders who are prepared to take responsibility for their actions to put things right voluntarily, in a way that, in some cases, directly benefits the environment and local communities.”