UK's largest environmental pollution claim reaches High Court

A landmark legal case involving over 4,500 claimants has reached the High Court in London, accusing a major chicken producer and a water company of polluting the rivers Wye, Lugg, and Usk along the Welsh-English border.

The claimants, who live or work near these rivers, have brought the case against Avara Foods and Welsh Water.

They allege pollution caused by the spreading of chicken manure on farmland and sewage spills.

The rivers have experienced green algae blooms, foul smells, and slime, which have affected local residents and businesses.

The claim demands compensation and action to improve the rivers' conditions.

This case is described as the largest environmental pollution claim in the UK by number of claimants and geographic spread.

The first procedural hearing took place at the High Court on Monday, with lead claimant Justine Evans, a wildlife filmmaker, attending.

Evans stated that the current state of the River Wye is unacceptable, citing systemic failures that have led to the pollution.

Campaigners have pointed to the rapid expansion of industrial chicken farming near the River Wye, where about 24 million chickens are raised in the catchment area, roughly a quarter of the UK's entire chicken population.

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