Environment Agency respond to farm claims

The Environment Agency have responded to claims that a local farm may have to close after a local watercourse dried up.

Owner of Rare Breeds Farm, Morag Tait, last week claimed that inaction by the Environment Agency over a dried up watercourse meant that the farm may have to close. 

A spokesman for the EA said: "Farmers must keep animals like cattle securely enclosed so they don’t pose a risk to themselves or the general public. This is regulated by the Health and Safety Executive.

"The Molewood Millrace Action Group is wrong to say we haven't engaged with Morag Tait. Our specialist officers met her in July, and we have a very good relationship. There is no disagreement between us.

"Our local biodiversity officers are considering environmental options for the River Beane. We continue to talk to the community and Hertfordshire County Council.

"Chalk streams like the Beane are precious habitats. We must all work together to protect them, which includes reducing pollution and making abstraction sustainable at a time of population growth."

Updated 29/10/20 to include paragraph summarising our earlier story.