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| Farmer jailed for 'ecological vandalism' of River Lugg in Herefordshire | Farmer jailed for 'ecological vandalism' of River Lugg in Herefordshire |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| John Price admitted seven charges and was sentenced to 12 months in jail | |
| 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 it 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 more than £1.2m in court and restoration 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. |
| The court was shown photographs taken before and after the damage | |
| 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. | 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 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 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. |
| 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 species | |
| Other examples of previous "uncooperative and sometime unlawful" behaviour of Price's were read to the court: | 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 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 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 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 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 | In July 2020 Mr Price was warned about planting crops right up to the riverbank and failing to observe a buffer zone |
| 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. | In total 71 mature trees within the SSSI were completely uprooted and 24 trees felled, with native vegetation and nesting sites destroyed. |
| Emma Johnson from Natural England said the sentence should act as a stark warning to others | |
| 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". | 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. | 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. |
| The £1.25m costs included £655,000 towards restoring the riverbank. | The £1.25m costs included £655,000 towards restoring the riverbank. |
| Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Rivers | Rivers |
| Kingsland | Kingsland |
| Environment Agency | Environment Agency |