Quarrying firm fined for flood

Written by Danny Carden and published in Matlock Mercury on Thu 19th Mar 2009

A quarry firm has promised lessons have been learned after being fined almost £40,000 for a flood which polluted a 30-mile stretch of Peak District rivers.

Poisonous sludge caused over £2million damage in Stoney Middleton - and harmed fish in nearby rivers - when a lagoon wall burst at Glebe Mines in January, 2007.

Glebe pleaded guilty at Chesterfield Magistrates' Court to three counts of causing contaminated substances to enter Stoke Brook, River Derwent and River Trent.

It was ordered to pay a £22,000 fine and £16,397 costs at the hearing on Thursday, March 12.

Speaking after the case, general manager, Gary Goodyear, apologised to residents for the damage and inconvenience.

Mr Goodyear said: "We regret the incidents and have put a series of measures in place to prevent them happening again.

"The judge said the January incident was an exceptional case and it was highly unlikely it could have been foreseen."

Mr Goodyear added his company took its environmental responsibilities "very seriously" and had taken substantial measures to avoid future problems.

Environment Agency investigation officer Stuart King said: "We were determined to ensure that Glebe Mines took responsibility for the clean up.

"That work is now complete, although we will continue to monitor the watercourses affected."

District councillor Cate Hunt, who represents the Calver ward, thought it was a fair settlement for her constituents.

Cllr Hunt said: "I'm pleased some closure has been reached. People possibly could feel more could have been asked for as the clean-up cost an awful lot of money.

"But Glebe has put a lot into that but I think lessons have been learned and I hope nobody has anything to worry about," she added.