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| Glastonbury Festival admits human waste pollution offence | Glastonbury Festival admits human waste pollution offence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The organisers of the Glastonbury Festival have admitted allowing human sewage to leak from a tank and pollute a stream. | The organisers of the Glastonbury Festival have admitted allowing human sewage to leak from a tank and pollute a stream. |
| The leak happened at the Worthy Farm site in Somerset in June 2014 and damaged water quality and killed fish. | The leak happened at the Worthy Farm site in Somerset in June 2014 and damaged water quality and killed fish. |
| Founder Michael Eavis, who was at Yeovil Magistrates' Court, said the sewage was in a £100,000 slurry tank. | Founder Michael Eavis, who was at Yeovil Magistrates' Court, said the sewage was in a £100,000 slurry tank. |
| The Glastonbury Festival is one of the UK's biggest music events, with some 175,000 people attending each year. | The Glastonbury Festival is one of the UK's biggest music events, with some 175,000 people attending each year. |
| During the hearing, the judge was told that 42 fish were killed by the sewage after a "large quantity" of sewage filtered into Whitelake River. | |
| Sensors in the stream alerted the Environment Agency to increased ammonia levels. | Sensors in the stream alerted the Environment Agency to increased ammonia levels. |
| The court was told fish - including protected brown trout - died as a result. | The court was told fish - including protected brown trout - died as a result. |
| Glastonbury Festival 2014 admitted the single charge against it. | Glastonbury Festival 2014 admitted the single charge against it. |
| Prosecuting, Kieran Martyn said: "The impact was extensive... It extended for at least 4km downstream." | Prosecuting, Kieran Martyn said: "The impact was extensive... It extended for at least 4km downstream." |
| Representing the festival, Kerry Gwyther, said the leak in the tank was a "freak incident" and not as serious as was being made out. | Representing the festival, Kerry Gwyther, said the leak in the tank was a "freak incident" and not as serious as was being made out. |
| "We don't accept that it was a major incident as described by the agency," he said. | "We don't accept that it was a major incident as described by the agency," he said. |
| "The leak period was eight hours. We do accept that there was a significant effect on water quality and the fish health. | "The leak period was eight hours. We do accept that there was a significant effect on water quality and the fish health. |
| "Significant costs were not incurred in terms of a clean up." | "Significant costs were not incurred in terms of a clean up." |
| 'Exceedingly sorry' | 'Exceedingly sorry' |
| The case has now been adjourned while both parties put together more detailed background reports. | The case has now been adjourned while both parties put together more detailed background reports. |
| Outside court Michael Eavis said: "Of course, I'm exceedingly sorry for what's happened. | Outside court Michael Eavis said: "Of course, I'm exceedingly sorry for what's happened. |
| "We had a problem obviously - there were 200,000 people and we were storing slurry. | "We had a problem obviously - there were 200,000 people and we were storing slurry. |
| "It was a tank for holding farm slurry, but on this occasion we were using it for the festival sewage and it was starting to leak. | "It was a tank for holding farm slurry, but on this occasion we were using it for the festival sewage and it was starting to leak. |
| "It was a brand new build, it cost me £100,000, so that's my defence." | "It was a brand new build, it cost me £100,000, so that's my defence." |
| Another issue yet to be decided is the seriousness of the breach. | Another issue yet to be decided is the seriousness of the breach. |
| If it is a category one offence, the festival would be in line for a fine of between £55,000 to £300,000 or, if it is deemed a category two the fine would be £20,000. | If it is a category one offence, the festival would be in line for a fine of between £55,000 to £300,000 or, if it is deemed a category two the fine would be £20,000. |
| The defence team told the court any fine should be in line with the company's finances. They said the festival's net profit was £84,000 a year before tax. But the prosecution said turnover was about £37m. | The defence team told the court any fine should be in line with the company's finances. They said the festival's net profit was £84,000 a year before tax. But the prosecution said turnover was about £37m. |
| Mr Gwyther said the site donated £2m in 2015 to a number of charities, including the Somerset Wildlife Trust and WaterAid. | Mr Gwyther said the site donated £2m in 2015 to a number of charities, including the Somerset Wildlife Trust and WaterAid. |
| District Judge David Taylor said there was "significant differences between one account to another" and said there would be a four-day hearing to decide the facts before sentencing. | District Judge David Taylor said there was "significant differences between one account to another" and said there would be a four-day hearing to decide the facts before sentencing. |
| Kasabian, Dolly Parton and Metallica headlined the festival in 2014. | Kasabian, Dolly Parton and Metallica headlined the festival in 2014. |