JD Spencer Farm Partnership, operating from Manor Farm in Langley Burrell near Chippenham, has been fined after causing two separate slurry pollution incidents that contaminated local waterways. The partnership admitted to four environmental offences during a hearing at Swindon Magistrates' Court on March 6.
The offences include two counts of illegal water discharge and two counts of failing to properly plan slurry spreading. The first spill occurred in November 2023, when slurry leaked into a tributary of the Bristol Avon river, according to the Environment Agency (EA). Water samples revealed dangerous levels of ammonia and critically low dissolved oxygen, both harmful to aquatic life.
Slurry, a mixture of animal manure and water, is commonly used by farmers as a natural fertiliser. However, when spread during poor weather conditions—such as heavy rain—it can wash into rivers, causing pollution. The EA warns that saturated ground increases the risk of slurry runoff entering watercourses.
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During a formal interview, co-owner Winston Spencer denied recent slurry spreading or pumping from the farm’s slurry lagoon. He did acknowledge that their slurry and parlour washings stores were full and accepted that runoff had occurred, attributing it to heavy rains washing away previously spread slurry.
The second pollution event took place in March 2024 when slurry again seeped into a watercourse at Langley Burrell. The EA was alerted by a member of the public and used drone surveillance to track the contamination across several watercourses. Spencer admitted to depositing wet slurry and believed it had entered field drains leading into the stream. He also confirmed the farm had no land drainage plans in place for the affected fields.
As a result of these violations, the JD Spencer Farm Partnership was fined £7,000, with an additional £2,800 victim surcharge and £8,944 in court costs.
David Womack, Senior Environment Officer at the EA, emphasized the preventability of these incidents. “Farmers are responsible for storing and applying organic manures carefully to protect our waterways,” he said. Womack encouraged farmers lacking sufficient slurry storage capacity to seek guidance from the Environment Agency. The agency can provide advice on legislation compliance, accurate slurry calculations, and ways to reduce pollution risks.
The EA also urges those responsible for pollution incidents to report them promptly. Immediate reporting can mitigate environmental damage. Incidents may be reported 24 hours a day at 0800 80 70 60.