Members of an angling club in Yorkshire have defeated a Government court appeal following the pollution of their river. In 2023, the High Court judged that the Government and Environment Agency had failed in their legal duties to review, update and install specific measures to restore the Costa Beck near Pickering.
A challenge to the verdict was launched by the previous Conservative government, which Labour’s Steve Reed decided to continue. But, on April 2 they lost that challenge, a decision which has been celebrated by members of the Pickering Fishery Association, who control the fishing.
However, Penelope Gane, Head of Practice at Fish Legal, said the case should never have got this far.
“This win is validation for the club. But we’re also angry that, after two decades of trying to get the authorities to act, it had
to go to court to force the Government and its agencies to do their job in regulating polluting industries.”
“This Government came to power promising to clean up rivers, lakes and seas. They could have dropped this appeal, but instead they have dragged out the legal process, wasting time and taxpayer money trying to defend continued inaction to restore not only the Costa Beck, but rivers nationwide.”
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