A FIRM has to pay nearly £5,000 in fines and costs for illegally watering a field of potatoes. Hereford magistrates heard how the water was taken from a brook without permission.
William Smith, trading as HVR Smith & Co of Park Farm, Leominster, admitted illegally extracting water, an offence under the Water Resources Act.
The court was told that an officer from the Environment Agency saw water being pumped out of Ledwyche Brook, near Tenbury Wells, in August last year.
A pipe linked the pump to a hose reel and irrigation gun watering a field of potatoes. By searching a tractor at the scene, the officer identified HVR Smith & Co as the owner.
When interviewed, Mr Smith said he was responsible for the day-to-day running of HVR Smith and that the offence was down to an oversight on his part.
The court heard that Mr Smith had co-operated fully with the investigation. The firm was fined £2,750 and ordered to pay £1,882.40 in costs.
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