Water firm treatment works was pollution source in Cornish river
A water company has confirmed one of its treatment works was the source of pollution that killed thousands of fish in a Cornish river.Pennon Group, which owns South West Water, said the pollution in St Austell River "occurred as a result of a delivery by a third party to our treatment works" in the Pentewan Valley.It said it was working with the Environment Agency on the investigation.The agency said potentially thousands of fish including trout, eels and lamprey were killed by liquid lime in the river, which is also known as the White River, on 19 June.
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Illegal waste clearance begins at Hoads Wood in Kent
An operation has begun to clear thousands of tonnes of illegally dumped waste from a Kent clean-up, led by the Environment Agency (EA), will see more than 30,000 tonnes of household and construction waste removed from Hoads Wood near Ashford and taken to a landfill facility in are starting to transport the first batches of waste away from the ancient woodland site, which was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its rare plants and EA said criminal gangs dumped the waste over a period of six months in 2023. Local residents told the BBC at the time that lorries were queueing up daily to tip their waste was dumped in an area of the wood measuring around 1.5 acres. In some places it is piled up to 4m (13.1ft) than 50 workers have been brought in to manage the removal and ensure the waste is disposed of safely. They have spent the past six months preparing for the clearance to operation, carried out by specialist firm Acumen Waste Services Ltd, is expected to take over a year to complete, with an estimated 2,000 lorry loads required to clear the site. Emma Viner, EA's enforcement and investigations manager, said the scale of the damage had left a lasting impact on the local community. She said: "The damage caused by these shameless criminals rocked the community of Ashford and robbed residents of an important habitat which holds a special place in their hearts."Our efforts are now focused on removing all the waste and bringing those behind this heinous crime to justice." In January 2024, EA officers obtained a magistrates' court order to close the entrance to the including local residents, Kent Wildlife Trust and the countryside charity CPRE Kent, fought for the May 2024, former Conservative environment secretary Peter Barclay ordered the EA to clear the site. 'Disgusting actions' Waste Minister Mary Creagh praised the clean-up effort and reiterated the government's commitment to tackling waste crime."Illegal dumping is a serious criminal offence which blights communities and damages our natural environment," she said."The community in Ashford shouldn't have to put up with the disgusting actions of these criminal gangs."She added that the government has announced new measures aimed at seizing and crushing vehicles used in waste crime. 'Mammoth undertaking' Kent Police's Rural Task Force, which has been supporting the EA, said waste dumping was often linked to wider criminal Darren Walshaw said: "It is great that work has now begun to restore Hoads Wood to its former beauty. "We will continue to work closely with the Environment Agency to send a clear message that fly-tippers are not welcome in Kent."Local conservation groups also welcomed the development. Ian Rickards, area manager at Kent Wildlife Trust, said: "Restoring this ancient woodland to its former state will be a mammoth undertaking, but we are hopeful that today is a step in the right direction."The EA confirmed it would continue monitoring air and water quality at the site as the waste is removed. The operation is being carried out with support from Natural England, the Forestry Commission and Ashford Borough are being urged to ensure they only use registered waste carriers to prevent further criminal dumping.
The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Hazardous waste among 30,000 tonnes of rubbish dumped in woods linked to organised crime
A monumental clean-up operation has commenced in Kent to remove 30,000 tonnes of hazardous waste illegally dumped in a woodland in Kent. The extensive effort at Hoad's Wood in Ashford, coordinated by the Environment Agency, is expected to take a year to complete. The vast quantities of harmful material, which first appeared in 2023, a re piled up to 15ft high in some areas of the woodland. Much of the discarded refuse, comprising household and construction waste, had already undergone mechanical treatment, with the Environment Agency noting "pockets of hazardous waste" within the mounds. The illegal dumping has prompted a significant criminal investigation, with three arrests made in February this year. Authorities are pursuing a "significant number" of lines of inquiry as they continue to probe the organised crime links behind the environmental devastation. This week marked the loading of the first lorries with the contaminated material, destined for safe disposal facilities, signalling the start of the extensive removal process. Emma Viner, enforcement and investigations manager at the Environment Agency, said: 'Today marks an important step in the journey of bringing Hoad's Wood back as a sanctuary for both wildlife and people.' The clean-up operation is reportedly expected to cost up to £15 million. Hoad's Wood has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest by Natural England and is home to rare plants and wildlife which may struggle to recover after the waste is removed. Ian Rickards, area manager at Kent Wildlife Trust, told the PA news agency: 'The habitat that's there is destroyed and lost but … it is possible to create a habitat within there which will work with the woodland and have some benefit to wildlife.' So far 170 trees have had to be cut down because of the polluted soil at the site. Mr Rickards said that buzzards, foxes, badgers and deer, along with fungi, wild flowers and invertebrates, have all suffered from the illegal dumping. He continued: 'There's only one direction to go really from this, you can't … it shouldn't really be able to get any worse, hopefully lessons have been learnt because what would (be) worse is if this happens somewhere else.' Nature minister Mary Creagh said the Government is 'determined' to crack down on waste criminals. The lorries which began their work this week are likely to keep running until Christmas. After Christmas, the Environment Agency and contracted waste services company, Acumen, will assess how much of the perimeter of the site has also been damaged. There was concern amongst workers as to what will happen to the site when the clean-up is finished and the agency's court order allowing them to control the site expires. Ms Viner said: 'The Environment Agency aren't the landowners here at Hoad's Wood but we are supporting conversations between different parties to look at the future. 'So, we're not just going to walk away, we are involved in supporting those conversations and will be going forward.' Mr Rickards said he was concerned that the Environment Agency could walk away from the site without setting a clear path for its future. 'I'm hoping the Environment Agency and the other agencies' goal here is to restore this woodland as best as possible,' he said.
The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
‘Secret weapon' set to be catapulted to front of Royal Family after Harry & Meghan betrayal left firm thread bare
SHE has long been regarded as the Royals' secret weapon and a savvy peacemaker. But now Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh — who was once described by Princess Diana as 'Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes' — is braced to play an important role in the family's future. 8 8 8 And the Duchess herself is thought to be delighted with the idea of more frontline roles and responsibilities. Since the banishment of Harry and Meghan, and Prince Andrew's fall from grace, the team of working royals has been down to the bare bones. After the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the cancer woes of King Charles and the Princess of Wales, the shortage of major royals for public duties was even more stark. Step forward Sophie, 60, who will now play a distinguished public role in the Royal Family. Both William and Kate are very fond of her and Edward, 61, who have proven to be steady hands in an otherwise turbulent family. Sources say Sophie — mother of Lady Louise, 21, who is set to graduate this summer, and 17-year-old James, the Earl of Wessex — is keen to relieve the work pressure on Charles, Camilla, William and Kate. This month Sophie was seen giggling and sipping cider with William at the Royal Cornwall Show, then last week crowds watched as she and Kate laughed together at the Garter Day procession in Windsor. No fanfare Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in January 2020. Four months later the disgraced Duke of York resigned from public roles and will never hold a royal position again after he paid millions in an out-of-court settlement over allegations of sex trafficking by Virginia Giuffre against convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Prince and Princess of Wales admire Sophie's quiet yet determined work on causes such as sexual violence in conflict, and supporting young people. Until now she has been a bit like Princess Anne — someone who has done a hell of a lot of travelling to engagements all over the world without any real fanfare. Royal source A source who knows her well says: 'Sophie is very keen to take on more work for the Royal Family. 'Until now she has been a bit like Princess Anne — someone who has done a hell of a lot of travelling to engagements all over the world without any real fanfare. 'The places she has gone to are often not very fashionable, to say the least, but she happily goes and gives each engagement her all because she knows she is representing the King. 'The Duchess is very good at doing her own research for those engagements and writing her own speeches, as does the Duke. 'I suspect that as she takes on more work for the family, Sophie will have to have more staff. 'Because at the moment the Duke and Duchess only have one live-in member of staff at their home in Bagshot [Surrey], who doubles up as a personal secretary.' Sophie's widowed father, former oil executive Chris Rhys-Jones, is 94, and she does feel guilty that she won't be able to see him as much. But, says our source, he is delighted that his daughter is to be given a bigger role in the Royal Family. Until now the public have been largely unaware of her work, which often has a global reach. 8 8 Last October The Sun joined Sophie as she made a historic trip to meet victims at a refugee camp on Chad's border with war-torn Sudan. The Duchess, who has worked as a humanitarian for almost a decade, paid an emotional visit to the Adre refugee camp in support of children's charity Plan International UK. Since she pledged her support for the Government's Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative on International Women's Day in 2019 she has visited victims in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Colombia, Iraq, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A royal source said: 'Undoubtedly she's going to play an important role in the future. 'William feels Edward and Sophie are needed. The important work that they do is seen.' The Royal Family have also been hugely impressed by Sophie's popularity with the public. In a recent YouGov poll she scored a 51 per cent positive rating — beating Camilla. In April last year she became the first royal — 12 months before Prince Harry's headline-grabbing jaunt — to visit Ukraine since Russia invaded. Cheering crowds Her trip on behalf of the Foreign Office championed 'solidarity' with Ukrainians suffering at the hands of Russia's brutal attacks. She also teamed up with the late Queen Elizabeth II in support of a programme to eliminate the infectious and blinding eye disease trachoma across the Commonwealth. Then last week came her joint engagement with William at the Royal Cornwall Show, where they were met by cheering crowds. They were all smiles as they toasted each other with gin and cider, making it clear they have an easy relationship. I think it's beholden on Buckingham Palace to put her out there more if that's what she wants to do. Chris Ship, ITV Royal Editor Earlier this month, visiting the Imperial War Museum in London, Sophie spoke of her mission to end sexual violence in global war zones. In the coming weeks her royal diary reveals a string of typically low-key engagements supporting her many patronages, such as Rochester Cathedral, the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations and the Central Ballet School. The King rewarded Edward and Sophie with their Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh titles in March 2023 to mark Edward's 59th birthday. Chris Ship, ITV Royal Editor, said: 'She does some fantastic work in the Middle East, in Africa, helping children who are suffering from potential blindness in adulthood. "So yes, she could do a lot more and I think she is a real asset. 'I think it's beholden on Buckingham Palace to put her out there more if that's what she wants to do.' Sophie has not always been universally popular at the Palace. 8 8 8 When she first began dating Edward in 1993 she handled the publicity for his charity event, and it was reported that Princess Diana gave her the Little Miss Goody Two Shoes nickname. Diana was vocal in her dislike for Sophie, who she thought had been given an easy ride in comparison with her own experience of joining the Royal Family. For many years Sophie has been known as the Royal Family's secret weapon — but for many it has been too secret. Finally the safe pair of hands could be given more of a role. SHE'S A JOY TO MEET By Arthur Edwards I AM delighted Sophie will spend more time in the royal limelight. She deserves it, because for more than 25 years, since she married Prince Edward, she has been doing her bit, but most of it has gone unrecognised. Not only is she stylish and the nicest person you could ever meet, she is also very down-to-earth. I went with her to a school where she gave a talk about the problems girls go through at puberty. She not only was happy to be photographed holding sanitary pads but she also insisted that boys attended her talk so they would understand. I have known her since she first met Edward, and I photographed her with her daughter Princess Louise, the first royal baby to be born in an NHS hospital, following emergency surgery. Louise was one of the bridesmaids at William and Kate's wedding. At a garden party later that year, Sophie happily told my wife Ann that Kate's mum Carole should take the credit for getting the bridesmaids and page boys to rehearse again and again, so by the time of the wedding they knew each other so well. Sophie has never lost the common touch – and now many more people will discover what a joy it is to meet her.
