From the Hereford Times website....it is known locally that he has ignored legislation before but the facts are as below (taken directly from court proceedings)
John Price's previous offences
The court has heard of John Price's previous offences.
- In 1998, he piled some rubble against the river bank. He was given a warning.
- In August 1999, he removed gravel and was challenged by officials.
- In July 2007, he was prosecuted for creating a dam to irrigate his potato farm and was fined.
In November 2018, Mr Price re-profiled the river and created flooding embankments with material he had scraped against the river.
He was given guidance remotely and reminded of his obligations and to obtain the relevant permits. In October time, the court heard, salmon and ground trout lay their eyes; therefore, their eggs could be destroyed by the machinery.
In July 2020, he was warned about his actions.
"His failure to observe the buffer zone could only be to maximise his profits," said judge Strongman.
In November 2020, he mebarked on the works with an 18-tonne digger used. Other machinery was used to remove trees and reprofile the banks.
The bulldozer was fitted with a tracker, and it drove across the riverbed. This would have crushed the fish eggs.
"He seems to have adopted the attitude that the rules do not apply to him," said Judge Strongman.
www.thesun.co.uk
