A Wiltshire farm has admitted discharging “poisonous, noxious or polluting matter” into the county’s waters.
J D Spencer & Sons Farm Partnership, based at Manor Farm, Langley Burrell, just outside Chippenham, pleaded guilty to four offences at Swindon Magistrates Court on January 23.
This follows an investigation by the Environment Agency.
The business admitted two counts of causing the discharge of poisonous, noxious or polluting matter from Manor Farm into inland fresh waters.
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These offences took place on or before November 10, 2023, and March 26, 2024, and the defendant admitted these discharges had not been authorised by an environmental permit.
The farm company also pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with the requirements of Regulation 4 of the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018, on the same dates.
As a land manager, the business failed to ensure that each application of organic manure was planned so that they did not pose a significant risk of agricultural diffuse pollution.
The case has been adjourned for sentencing, which is due to take place at Swindon Magistrates Court on March 6 this year.
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