Prosecution brought after diesel leak damages water quality

A man from Holsworthy has been fined £3,000 after polluting a stream in Devon with diesel oil.

Malcolm Newton, who owns and operates an agricultural contractor's yard in Redpost, Bridgerule, pleaded guilty to committing an offence under the Water Resources Act 1991 at Barnstaple Magistrate's Court on January 22nd.

Officers from the Environment Agency visited Mr Newton's yard in April last year and advised him to clean up the site after they observed overflowing oil drums and a leaking fuel tank.

Water samples taken from the nearby stream and soil samples from the yard revealed that the area was "contaminated with a heavy lubricating-type oil".

Robin Duffy, a representative from the Environment Agency, commented: "Site operators must ensure they are compliant with the oil storage regulations and take all reasonable steps to minimise the risk of pollution from spillages and leaks."

He added that this is particularly important when such substances are being stored near a waterway.

According to statistics released by the organisation, industry caused 56 per cent of serious pollution incidents in 2008.

Posted by Claire Manning