IN FEBRUARY 1998, I wrote to the local press expressing concern that the company Transorganics were spreading untreated abbatoir blood and gut material on land in the Westbury-on-Severn area.
At that time, following contact with the Forest of Dean Environmental Health Department, they reported to the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (London) who gave an immediate press release by David Statham, the chairman of the Food Committee, which stated: "The use of untreated abbatoir waste as fertiliser for crops has been labelled a "recipe for disaster" by Environmental Health Officers who believe the practice carries a high risk of passing on disease-causing organisms such as E.coli 0157, the bacterium which killed 20 people in Scotland. This is a very high risk strategy, it could easily give rise to either direct infection of food, animals or indirect infection via pests or birds."
I also sent copies of letters to Diana Organ MP, who subsequently responded with copies of letters from Mr Jeff Rooker, the Minister of Agriculture. The final one dated 28 May '99 makes the following statement: "The Government recognises the potential risk of the transfer of pathogens to food via the spreading of organic wastes on agricultural land. It therefore proposes to carry out a structured programme of further research and risk assessment into the use of sewage, slurry and abbatoir waste on land and will continue to keep these matters under close and continual review.
"MAFF are currently assessing tenders for the research which aims to provide the information necessary to carry out a risk assessment. Work is expected to be underway in the next few months."
I find it incredulous that two years later Transorganics are able to carry out a similar operation, particularly on a flood plain at Elton, which is adjacent to the river with the Elton brook flowing through. It is also near to Westbury village, and accessible by public footpaths.
This cannot be safe, and must carry a high risk to the public. – Philip Horsley, Ambleside, Elton, Newnham.