A farmer has been jailed for “the worst case of riverside destruction” seen by environmental authorities after ripping up 1.5km of the River Lugg in Herefordshire, wrecking the habitats of otters, kingfishers, trout and salmon.
Following the first prosecution under the farming rules for water legislation, John Price was jailed for 12 months, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £600,000 and disqualified from being a director of a limited company for three years after admitting seven charges related to his “wanton” destruction of one of the country’s most unspoiled rivers.
The Environment Agency and Natural England, which brought the case against Price, said it would take decades to recover from the damage meted out by the farmer, who was also handed a restoration order at Kidderminster magistrates court, requiring him to restore the river.
Price used heavy machinery including bulldozers and excavators to dredge and re-profile a 1.5km stretch of the River Lugg at Kingsland, Herefordshire, destroying the riverbed and banks, the Environment Agency said.
The unconsented works were in breach of several regulations, including the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018, also known as the farming rules for water, and operations prohibited in the notification of a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), which persisted despite Price being issued with a stop notice.
Due to the exceptionally high diversity of wildlife, the Lugg is a designated SSSI, with 121 river plant species that provide habitat for invertebrates, fish and birds.
The damage to the river and banks removed the habitats of hundreds of these species, including otters, kingfishers and salmon, as well as destroying trees, aquatic plant life and invertebrates.
The Environment Agency said it was expected to take decades to re-establish mature trees to provide the stability, cover and shade to restore the diversity of the river. Fish, plants, native crayfish and birds may take years to make a gradual return to previous populations.
Speaking after the verdict, Emma Johnson, the area manager for Natural England, said: “The destruction of this section of the River Lugg was devastating for the abundance and range of species which thrived in this river.
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“The River Lugg is one of the most iconic rivers in the UK and to see this wanton destruction take place was devastating.”
Price, 68, of Day House farm, Kingsland, who owns land either side of the Lugg with assets valued at between £21m and £25m, argued he took action to prevent flooding but experts from the Environment Agency said there was no such benefit from his destruction.
