Organic farming college pollutes stream
7 December 1999
Organic farming college pollutes stream
By Donald MacPhail
AN agricultural college which teaches organic farming has been criticised for not following good practices after it was found guilty of polluting a stream with slurry.
Broomfield College, Broomfield, near Ilkeston in Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to polluting Breadsall Brook at Lime Farm, near Breadsall, Derbyshire.
The college was fined £2000 with costs of £1335.46 at East Derbyshire Magistrates Court on 2 December, it has emerged.
An over-application of slurry in bad weather on 30 January resulted in runoff into drains and directly into the brook. Twenty trout were killed by the pollution.
P>A spokesman for the Environment Agency, which brought the prosecution, said the water watchdog was very disappointed by the college.
“This incident involved an establishment which should have been familiar with better practices for dealing with farm waste,” he said.
The work was carried out by farm contractor Martin Wayne Hayes, of Clay Cross, Derbyshire, who also pleaded guilty.
Mr Hayes had costs of £450 awarded against him and was given a 12-month conditional discharge by the magistrate.
The courses offered by Broomfield College include a first diploma and a higher national diploma in organic agriculture.