Farmer Fined for Repeatedly Polluting a River

The below case highlights the importance of reviewing how your operation (such as a farm in this instance) may affect the local area, as any failure to correct practices that harm the environment can result in a hefty fine and conviction.

David Benjamin Huw Marks had failed to empty a silage tank on his farm on a frequent enough basis, resulting in the tank overflowing and draining into the Afon Hwr Fach on 3 different instances between December 2017 and December 2018.

Consequently, sewage fungus had grown along the 0.75km length of the river from Cwrt Farm to the confluence of the Teifi. The constant pollution of the river would have been poisonous or may have harmed fish, spawning areas and the food of fish.

It was clear Mr Marks had not complied with previous advice or warnings given by the NRW officers and continued to pollute the river.

When he attended court on 11th September 2020, he pled guilty to offences under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016. On 15th October 2020, he was sentenced at Llanelli Magistrates’ Courts and ordered to pay a £6,000 fine, £6,327.10 costs and £170 victim surcharge.