Home / Environment / Farmer Fined £7,000 for Illegally Discharging Slurry, Harming River
Farmer Fined £7,000 for Illegally Discharging Slurry, Harming River
4 Oct
Summary
- Farmer Timothy Juckes fined over £7,000 for illegal slurry discharge
- Slurry pumped into River Swilgate, causing pollution and fish deaths
- Environment Agency officers responded to reports of pollution in November 2022
In a concerning environmental incident, a Gloucestershire farmer has been held accountable for illegally discharging slurry into a local river, causing significant harm to the ecosystem.
Timothy Juckes, a 48-year-old farmer from Tredington House Farm near Tewkesbury, was ordered to pay more than £7,000 in fines and costs after admitting to the offense. According to the details, Juckes had laid a pipe in the River Swilgate in order to pump slurry from one storage lagoon to another between November 14 and 15, 2022.
Environment Agency officers attended the scene on November 16 after receiving reports of pollution. They noted a strong slurry smell, brown discolored water, and the presence of some dead fish, all of which were traced back to Juckes' farm. The farmer was subsequently prosecuted and pleaded guilty to the illegal discharge at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on September 29.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible farming practices and the need to protect local waterways from pollution. The hefty fine imposed on Juckes underscores the seriousness with which such environmental offenses are viewed, and the consequences that can arise from disregarding regulations designed to safeguard the natural world.
