UK River Pollution Lawsuit Procedural Hearing Begins
The lawsuit targets chicken producers Avara and Freemans of the County, alongside Welsh Water, regarding river pollution. The hearing marks the start of a long-term judicial investigation. A major group legal action involving more than 4,500 residents near the River Yew, the River Lugg, and the River Usk commenced its first procedural hearing today. The hearing marks the start of what is described as one of the largest group legal actions in UK court history. The lawsuit targets a water company and a large chicken producer regarding pollution near the River Yare, the River Usk, and the River Lugg. The claim alleges that nutrients from manure produced by approximately 24 million chickens in the catchment area were washed into rivers. This chicken population represents about a quarter of the entire UK chicken population.
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Sources · 7 independent
“The case against chicken producers Avara and Freemans of Neuent and Welshwater will be heard at the High Court in London. All three firms vigorously deny the claims.”
“solicitors and they will argue that chicken production by Avara and their subsidiary company Freemans of Newant and Welsh Waters sewage system have caused the river pollution.”
“The legal case argues that the pollution is caused by both chicken muck spread on land as fertilizer, which could run into the water when it rains.”
“Avara employ thousands of people and partner with hundreds of farms. Now Avara say the legal claim is based on a misunderstanding and not supported by scientific data.”
“today's hearing is the start of a very long legal process and it's up to a judge to decide who or what, if anything, has caused the pollution in these rivers.”
“More than 4,000 people who live or work nearby are involved in what lawyers say is the biggest environmental pollution case ever brought in the UK.”
“The hearing begins today into the biggest group legal action in the history of the UK courts. The defendants are a water company and one of the country's largest chicken producers.”
“More than 4,500 people who live near the River Y, the lugg which is a tributary of the Y, and the river us could be brought together by a law firm.”
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