Plumpton College fined £50,000 in court: this is why

Plumpton College has been fined £50,000 in court - and this is why.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

According to the Environment Agency (EA), the agricultural college in Ditchling Road, Lewes, was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay court costs of almost £45,000 at Hove Crown court yesterday (August 21).

The Environment Agency prosecuted the college for causing the deaths of more than 1,500 fish in 2016, after management failings caused slurry to significantly pollute the nearby Plumpton Mill Stream, the EA said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A Plumpton spokesman pointed out the incident happened four years ago due to 'an inexplicable course of behaviour by an ex-member of staff who left the college in 2017'.

Environment Agency officers increase the oxygen in the stream. Picture: Environment AgencyEnvironment Agency officers increase the oxygen in the stream. Picture: Environment Agency
Environment Agency officers increase the oxygen in the stream. Picture: Environment Agency

Ed Schmidt, environment management team leader in Sussex for the Environment Agency, said: “Poor management, a lack of contingency planning and inadequate infrastructure at the farm resulted in a totally avoidable pollution incident that had a disastrous effect on the local environment.

“It is even more disappointing that a college that specialises in agricultural practices and teaches farmers of the future failed to take all reasonable actions, and was wholly negligent in preventing this incident from occurring in the first place."

Judge Shani Barnes said the Environment Agency worked tirelessly to bring the college into regulatory compliance over previous years, the EA spokesman said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

According to the EA, the court heard that on 29 and 30 November 2016, contaminated water containing a high amount of cow slurry was spread as fertiliser onto a field known as 15 Acres, at Wales Farm, now called Lambert Farm, managed by Plumpton College.

The stream was contaminated with slurry. Picture: Environment AgencyThe stream was contaminated with slurry. Picture: Environment Agency
The stream was contaminated with slurry. Picture: Environment Agency

This work was carried out by head herdsman Stuart Duncan, the EA said, despite the volume spread being many times more than the field could absorb. As the ground was also frozen, much of the contaminated water ran off into ditches and land drains, which then flowed into the nearby Plumpton Mill Stream.

The pollution was classified as a category one incident by the Environment Agency – its most serious level. The stream smelled strongly of slurry, and the watercourse was visibly brown with foam on the top. Many of the dead fish were protected species, such as migratory trout.

The Environment Agency became aware of the incident after it was reported by a member of the public. The college did not report the pollution had occurred, and nor did it have an emergency plan in place for dealing with slurry spillage, the EA said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The agency had been in regular contact to advise the college on its management and operations on number occasions since 2011, because of concerns about incidents and non-compliances with agricultural regulations.

The stream was contaminated with slurry. Picture: Environment AgencyThe stream was contaminated with slurry. Picture: Environment Agency
The stream was contaminated with slurry. Picture: Environment Agency

According to the EA, the college admitted the incident was the result of a mistake by a member of staff. They conceded the actions taken to spread the slurry were wrong, as the weather conditions and field were not suitable for this to take place, according to the EA.

Prior to sentencing, Duncan accepted a formal caution for his actions contributing to the incident, the EA said.

Ed Schmidt added: “The outcome of this case should be a clear and strong message to all people working within the farming industry to ensure they think about the actions they take when managing highly polluting liquids.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Ensure you are compliant with codes of practice, take the time to review your procedures. Consider seeking advice from the Environment Agency or qualified consultants, check and maintain your infrastructure and test your emergency planning and response to accidental incidents.”

Plumpton College, of Ditchling Road, Lewes, pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown court last year to the offence.

A statement from the college said: "This pollution incident happened in November 2016.

"The college took some solace today from the Judge’s finding which supported our own internal investigation that this was attributable to an inexplicable course of behaviour by an

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

ex-member of staff who left the college in 2017, and that had this individual not acted in this way, no pollution event would have occurred.

"Judge Barnes supported the college’s view that the incident was not indicative in any way of the college’s current performance and standards and indeed praised the significant

progress made over recent years.

"The college is looking forward to receiving record numbers of land based students for the start of the new academic year, as it continues to achieve some of the highest pass rates

amongst its peers nationally.

"Its new cohort of agriculture students will learn on the farm which is today accredited by Red Tractor and the prestigious LEAF Marque for its environmentally friendly farming practices."