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The High Court has received the largest legal claim in the UK regarding environmental pollution, involving nearly 4,000 individuals, against major poultry producers and a water company for alleged extensive pollution in three rivers – the Wye, Lugg, and Usk. The claimants argue that the state of these rivers in recent years has negatively impacted local businesses, property values, and people’s enjoyment of the area, leading them to seek substantial damages. However, the companies being sued – Avara Foods Limited, Freemans of Newent Limited, and Welsh Water – have all denied the claims.
Celine O’Donovan from the law firm Leigh Day highlighted the significance of this case, citing it as the largest environmental pollution claim in the UK based on three factors: the number of claimants involved, the geographical extent of the damage, and the total amount of damages claimed. The claimants, who either live or work near these rivers or frequent them for leisure activities, are seeking a court order to clean up the rivers in addition to compensation. The pollution is attributed to a combination of chicken manure and sewage spills, which have resulted in compromised water quality and harm to aquatic wildlife.
The River Wye has become a symbol of growing concerns surrounding the deteriorating condition of the UK’s waterways, with up to 23 million chickens raised in the river’s catchment area. The impact of pollution on these rivers has raised alarm among the claimants, including lead claimant and wildlife filmmaker Justine Evans, who has observed a troubling decline in the Wye’s water quality. Residents like former Olympic swimmer Roland Lee and local Gino Parisi have expressed concerns over the rivers’ current state, urging for action to address the pollution and restore their environmental health.
The pollution in these rivers is attributed to runoff from farmland containing high levels of phosphorus, nitrogen, and bacteria from poultry manure and sewage bio solids used as fertilizer, as well as direct sewage discharges into the rivers. The companies being sued are accused of negligence, public nuisance, and trespass, with the claimants seeking justice in light of the government and regulators’ inability to prevent river degradation. Despite investments made by Welsh Water to improve water quality, the overall pollution levels have increased significantly, emphasizing the urgency of addressing all forms of pollution and climate change effects to safeguard these important water bodies
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