Farmer faces slurry fine

A FARMER has been fined £2,000 after pleading guilty to two charges of causing slurry to enter a tributary of the Marston Brook on two separate occasions.

The farmer was fined £1,000 on each charge and ordered to pay costs of £500.

The Environment Agency brought the charges under Section 85 of the Water Resources Act 1991.

Speaking after the case, environment officer Geoff Harper said: “This is a persistent problem, and we are pleased that the matter has been brought to court.

“We hope this demonstrates to farmers that we will not tolerate the polluting of watercourses.”