Burwash care home fined
Nursing home bosses have been fined for discharging too many chemicals into a river.
Barchester Healthcare Homes, which manages Dudwell St Mary Nursing Home in Etchingham Road, Burwash, was fined 3,000 and ordered to pay 1,075 in costs by Hastings magistrates.
It was prosecuted by the Environment Agency (EA) after its private sewage treatment plant discharged too many chemicals into the River Dudwell.
A spokesman for the EA said: "This highlights how important it is for owners of private sewage treatment plants to ensure they are being correctly operated."
A spokesman for Barchester Healthcare Homes said: "The management team at Dudwell St Mary care home can confirm that they have been working with the Environment Agency to investigate the findings around incorrect discharge of sewage.
"This was due to the sewage plant not performing to standard. Once the issue was highlighted by the EA, the team immediately called in the sewage plant suppliers and contractors to try to identify the problem with the plant.
"When this was not identified, the team then hired an independent expert who located the source of the problem.
"We have great respect for the the work of the Environment Agency and with this in mind the company entered a guilty plea with respect to two charges of contravening the conditions of consent.
"Hastings Magistrates' Court ordered the company to pay a fine for each of these charges. The management team at the home has endeavoured to be helpful and forthcoming throughout the investigation and is satisfied with the outcome of the hearing."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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