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Farmer jailed for 'ecological vandalism' of River Lugg in Herefordshire Farmer jailed for 'ecological vandalism' of River Lugg in Herefordshire
(32 minutes later)
The court was shown photographs taken before and after the damage, which Mr Price admitted he did to the River LuggThe court was shown photographs taken before and after the damage, which Mr Price admitted he did to the River Lugg
A farmer who hired diggers and bulldozers to illegally rip up trees along the banks of a river has been jailed for 12 months.A farmer who hired diggers and bulldozers to illegally rip up trees along the banks of a river has been jailed for 12 months.
John Price admitted seven charges of damaging a stretch of the River Lugg in Herefordshire, including failing to stop pollution entering the water.John Price admitted seven charges of damaging a stretch of the River Lugg in Herefordshire, including failing to stop pollution entering the water.
The judge at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court described his actions as "ecological vandalism on an industrial scale". The judge at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court described it as "ecological vandalism on an industrial scale".
He was also told to pay £600,000 costs. He was also told to pay more than £1.2m in court and restoration costs.
Price had "turned a traditional tree-lined river into a canal" when he removed gravel and silt on the banks of one of the UK's most important salmon rivers, said District Judge Ian Strongman.Price had "turned a traditional tree-lined river into a canal" when he removed gravel and silt on the banks of one of the UK's most important salmon rivers, said District Judge Ian Strongman.
In the wake of the damage, charges against the farmer were brought by the Environment Agency and Natural England. In the wake of the damage, charges against the farmer were brought by the Environment Agency and Natural England, which said the habitats of otters, Kingfishers and trout were also destroyed.
The damage was described as the "worst case of riverside destruction" seen by the organisations and they added it could take several decades to be fully restored.
The farmer hired diggers and bulldozers to carry out the workThe farmer hired diggers and bulldozers to carry out the work
The 68-year-old, of Day House Farm, Kingsland, owns land either side of the Lugg with assets valued at between £21m and £25m, the court heard.The 68-year-old, of Day House Farm, Kingsland, owns land either side of the Lugg with assets valued at between £21m and £25m, the court heard.
The defendant had removed a copse of trees and used gravel from the River Lugg to build a raised hard-standing area of 65.7ft x 98ft (20m x 30m) on the land.The defendant had removed a copse of trees and used gravel from the River Lugg to build a raised hard-standing area of 65.7ft x 98ft (20m x 30m) on the land.
In 2020, he was issued with a stop notice by Natural England. He pleaded guilty to failing to comply with that notice and carrying out similar work the following year.In 2020, he was issued with a stop notice by Natural England. He pleaded guilty to failing to comply with that notice and carrying out similar work the following year.
Prosecutor Bernard Thorogood told the court Price had carried out flood alleviation work on land he was renting in Marden in 2018.Prosecutor Bernard Thorogood told the court Price had carried out flood alleviation work on land he was renting in Marden in 2018.
At the time, he was warned not to do it again and ordered to repair the damage.At the time, he was warned not to do it again and ordered to repair the damage.
John Price from Day House Farm in Kingsland spent over 200 hours remodelling the River Lugg
Other examples of previous "uncooperative and sometime unlawful" behaviour of Price's were read to the court:
In 1998 the farmer piled rubble against the riverbank claiming it was some sort of flood barrier
In August 1999 he removed about 10 tonnes of gravel from the river without consent
In July 2007 he was prosecuted for creating a dam across a tributary in order to irrigate his potato crop, drying up the river for 1.5km downstream
In November 2018, Mr Price reprofiled the river at Oxpasture and created flood embankments using material he had scraped from the river
In July 2020 Mr Price was warned about planting crops right up to the riverbank and failing to observe a buffer zone
The court heard the River Lugg was one of the best rivers in the UK for salmon and supports many rare water beetle and crane fly speciesThe court heard the River Lugg was one of the best rivers in the UK for salmon and supports many rare water beetle and crane fly species
Price had objected to the River Lugg and banks next to his farm being made a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) in February 1995, the court was told.Price had objected to the River Lugg and banks next to his farm being made a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) in February 1995, the court was told.
It heard the Lugg was home to six protected and endangered species, including common otter, Atlantic salmon, white clawed crayfish, brook lamprey, shad and bullhead.It heard the Lugg was home to six protected and endangered species, including common otter, Atlantic salmon, white clawed crayfish, brook lamprey, shad and bullhead.
It was also described as one of the best rivers in the UK for salmon and supported many rare water beetle and crane fly species.It was also described as one of the best rivers in the UK for salmon and supported many rare water beetle and crane fly species.
In total 71 mature trees within the SSSI were completely uprooted and 24 trees felled, with native vegetation and nesting sites destroyed.
Emma Johnson, area manager for Natural England said the destruction had been "devastating for the abundance and range of species which thrived in the river".
Welcoming the sentencing, she said she hoped it would act as a "stark warning" to others.
Price received a 12-month custodial sentence with a recommendation from the judge that he spend half of that in jail.Price received a 12-month custodial sentence with a recommendation from the judge that he spend half of that in jail.
He was also ordered to pay up to £655,000 in an agreed restoration plan. The £1.25m costs included £655,000 towards restoring the riverbank.
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Related TopicsRelated Topics
RiversRivers
KingslandKingsland
Environment AgencyEnvironment Agency