Severn Trent Water has agreed to pay Lydney and District Angling Club £ 18,500 in damages following a discharge of sewage into the Lydney Canal from its East Marsh pumping station in October 2006. The pollution killed thousands of fish including carp, roach, rudd, bream, dace, perch, chub, pike and tench.

The utility, which did not dispute liability for the pollution, was successfully prosecuted by the Environment Agency (EA) in 2007. It was found negligent in failing to prevent the escape of sewage, discharging the sewage without consent, failing to reset alarms that had been triggered 8 days before the pollution and failing to respond to a high level alarm for 6 days. The Anglers’ Conservation Association (ACA) prepared the compensation claim for the club, which leases the fishing rights on the canal, for a loss of amenity and to cover the costs of restocking.

Mark Lloyd, executive director of the ACA commented: “Everyone at the ACA is really pleased to have been able to help the Lydney anglers get a fair compensation settlement for this tragic pollution event. Because the water company was willing to settle , our lawyer’s job was made easier and the club will be able to get on with restocking the canal much sooner than if the company had fought the case.”

Paul Grindle, Chairman of Lydney and District Angling Club said: “On behalf of the angling club I wish to thank all of the ACA team for their support with the canal incident. After such a devastating pollution, we are delighted that the case has been settled quickly and can now look forward to re-establishing the fishery as soon as possible.”

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