A North Devon farmer has been ordered to pay £23,190 in fines and costs for depositing controlled waste without a permit.
In the case brought by the Environment Agency, Peter Willes, of Higher Alminstone Farm in Woolsery, Bideford, Devon, pleaded guilty to three environmental offences following a fire on a Hartland farm in which wastes including plastics, a fridge, tyres and light bulbs were burnt.
He admitted allowing controlled waste to be deposited without a permit at Beckland Farm on 2nd February 2010, and causing slurry and milk to enter a stream on or before the same day, and a further charge of allowing effluent in another stream on or before 11th February 2010.
Peter Willes was fined £19,500 and ordered to pay £4,190 costs by North Devon Magistrates after pleading to causing polluting matter to enter controlled waters, an offence under the Water Resources Act 1991, and depositing controlled waste on land at Becklands Farm, Hartland, Devon, contrary to Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Source: Environment Agency
