River Action sought permission back in March for what is known as judicial review, which determines whether a public body has failed to follow its own rules. The charity claimed at the time that the Environment Agency had failed to protect the river from pollution from farming, particularly the spreading of manure from surrounding poultry farms. It has now been granted this following a High Court hearing last Thursday (October 19). The court will now look at how far the agency enforced rules governing the spreading of organic manure and artificial fertiliser on farmland in the river catchment. OTHER NEWS:Around two thirds of the phosphorus – the nutrient causing the most harm to the Wye – comes from farming, according to a recent study by Lancaster University.

Source: The Times October 24, 2023 11:14 UTC