4-Aug-2006
- An Anglesey-based cheese company has been fined
£4,000 after pleading guilty to polluting
the Afon Cefni. The company was also ordered to
pay full costs of £1,585, in a prosecution
brought by Environment Agency Wales at Llangefni
Magistrates Court on 2 August 2006.
Glanbia Cheese Ltd, based in
Glan Hwfa Road, Llangefni were prosecuted for
allowing polluting matter to enter controlled
waters contrary to Section 85 (1) of the Water
Resources Act 1991.
The charge relates to an incident
on Monday 29 August 2005, when the Agency received
a report from the company that a spill had occurred
whilst loading a cream tanker. The report stated
that the spill had been contained within a ditch
and had not reached the Afon Cefni.
However, when Agency officers
visited the site the following morning, they found
that approximately 100 litres of cream had been
lost to surface water drains.The officers found
discoloured water discharging from a ditch into
the Afon Cefni and a strong dairy smell.
Further Investigations found
that the company did not have any written procedures
in place for training new employees on how to
fill the tankers effectively. The loading area
for the cream tankers on site is also in an area
close to surface water drains. The company does
have spill procedure guidance notes on site but
these had not been followed.
Speaking after the case Melissa
Morris, an Environment Officer with Environment
Agency Wales said: ‘ We are pleased with this
conviction as it is important to send a message
that In line with our enforcement and prosecution
policy the Agency will prosecute companies that
cause pollution. This case demonstrates how important
it is that companies have adequate spill procedures
in place and that staff are sufficiently trained.
As a result of this prosecution Glanbia Cheese
Ltd are reviewing their working practices and
relocating the loading area for the cream tankers.‘
Martin Watkins
