A farmer who claimed he bulldozed a riverside beauty spot home to otters and salmon to protect local homes from flooding has been jailed for environmental destruction.
John Price used an 18-tonne digger to dredge a section of the River Lugg near Leominster, Herefordshire, and stripped a mile-long stretch of the bank of trees.
The 68-year-old claimed he had acted in December 2020 to protect locals in the nearby hamlet whose homes had been devastated by previous floods.
However, he was brought before magistrates on Thursday following legal action by Natural England and the Environment Agency, accused of damaging a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and one of the UK’s most important salmon rivers.
Natural England officials said the river had been ‘decimated’ by the work which had led to a ‘devastating’ effect on local wildlife and people living nearby. They said the habitats of ‘iconic wildlife’ such as otters, kingfishers and salmon had also been destroyed along the mile stretch of the river.
Price was found guilty of seven offences relating to breaching a Natural England stop notice at at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court and sentenced to 12 months in prison.
He was also disqualified from being a company director for three years, ordered to pay £600,000 prosecution costs and is required to help restore the river.
Sentencing, Judge Ian Strongman said: ‘Any person could not fail to be dismayed by the devastation caused by Mr Price – he has turned it into a canal devoid of most life. It is ecological vandalism on an industrial scale.
‘It was a desire to reduce the risk of flooding. Some residents who live nearby are grateful for Mr Price for taking this action. The Environment Agency said the overall river level is as high as recent years but Mr Price’s actions have made things worse.
‘It is total ignorance to nature and the environment.’
Natural England and the Environment Agency described the damage as the worst case of riverside destruction they had ever seen and could take several decades to be fully restored.
Speaking after the case Emma Johnson, 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.
‘The River Lugg is one of the most iconic rivers in the UK and to see this wanton destruction take place was devastating.
‘This is why we have used our powers as regulators to see that justice was done and to act as a stark warning to others that we will take the strongest action against those who do not respect the laws that protect the environment and wildlife we all cherish.
‘We want to ensure that Mr Price now takes the necessary actions which we hope, in time will restore this much-loved stretch of river to its former condition.’
Martin Quine, Environment Agency place manager for Herefordshire added: ‘The destruction of river banks is not appropriate flood management. It is important that the Judge recognised that the works significantly weakened flood prevention measures rather than improved them.’
Helen Stace, CEO of the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, described Mr Price’s actions previously as a ‘crime against the environment’.
Environmentalists – including BBC Gardeners’ World host Monty Don – also expressed his shock at the ‘complete obliteration’ of the site.
‘It breaks my heart but is all too-typical of the ignorance, arrogance and sheer wanton destruction of those privileged to care for our countryside,’ said Mr Don.
But Mr Price said previously he was asked to carry out the work for free as he was fixing the erosion of the river bed and was helping to solve flooding issues. He claimed the work he did on the riverbanks is legal and says he has the backing of local councillors and residents.
Homes were flooded during Storm Dennis in early 2020, but when Storm Christoph hit in January 2021, houses stayed dry. Storm Dennis delivered up to 158mm of rain while Storm Christoph was closer to 100mm.
Speaking after he cleared the riverbank, Mr Price said: ‘I’m a Herefordshire farmer and have lived at Hay Farm and was born here at home. I have never moved and have watched this river all my life and no one knows this river better than myself.
‘I have always looked after the river. I was asked to stop the erosion because I’m the landowner so I’m responsible for the river.
‘It was up to the Environmental Agency to look after these rivers but they don’t do any work and haven’t got any money to do the work because they spend it all on clipboards.
‘I have not pushed any trees out and I haven’t knocked any trees down I have only cleared what ones came down in the flood.’
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