ESG Enforcement Tracker

Key facts:

A dairy farm in Dorset has been fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,158.50 following the pollution of a local river caused by their cattle slurry. The original fine was reduced for an early guilty plea.

Following a report of pollution from a member of the public, an Environmental Agency (EA) officer was sent to assess the source and cause of the pollution. After discovering discolouration and foam in the water, the source of the pollution was traced back to Manor Farm Dairy. A subsequent EA report stated that the pollution caused a significant impact on the water quality for 2km, with its impact continuing up to 4.5km from the farm.

Appearing before Taunton Magistrates Court on 8 October 2025, Manor Farm Dairy Limited pleaded guilty to the offence of causing an unpermitted discharge of poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into a local river, contrary to Regulations 12(1)(b) and Regulation 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.