Environment Agency calls for bigger fines in pollution battle

Nov 6 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

ENVIRONMENT Agency bosses in the region last night urged courts to impose tougher fines on businesses responsible for pollution.

Their pleas came as it emerged the North East is one of the regions hardest hit by serious pollution incidents caused by industry.

The latest statistics from the agency yesterday revealed that the number of cases in England and Wales dropped 13% from 827 in 2007 to 723 in 2008. That’s also a 44% decline from the 1,854 major incidents recorded in 2001.

For serious pollution incidents caused by industry, the agency’s Yorkshire and North East region had the highest share at 18% of the national total.

In terms of the most serious of those, Yorkshire and the North East’s 19% was again the worst figure. In the North East itself, there were four serious incidents. The total of all pollution incidents in the North East alone last year was 801, compared to 887 in 2007.

The breakdown is agriculture 21, domestic and residential 36, industry 51, sewage and water industry 124, transport 29, waste management facilities 163 and other 377.