The signatories have all reported to being affected by the pollution in the catchment areas of the Wye, Lugg and Usk rivers in the south west of England and south east of Wales.
The claim was first launched a year ago by environmental lawyers at law firm Leigh Day, alleging that industrial-scale chicken production managed by Avara Foods is the single largest contributor of river water pollution in the region.
It also states that chicken manure runs into the Wye, Lugg and Usk rivers, creating phosphorus and nitrate pollution that results in algal blooms which block sunlight and deprive the water of oxygen.
Avara Foods operates a chicken and turkey processing facility in Hereford.
“I am pleased to see that the claim has resonated so strongly with local residents and businesses,” said Leigh Day partner Oliver Holland, who is leading the River Wye legal claim.
“The rivers Wye, Lugg and Usk play an integral role in the lives of so many individuals and businesses and the powerful response from the community sends a clear message to alleged polluters that they will not stand by and allow these vital public resources to deteriorate further.”
When approached by Food Manufacture, an Avara Foods spokesperson described the claims as baseless and without merit.
“We remain engaged in the pre-action process with Leigh Day but continue to believe that their accusations are not supported by any independent academic or scientific research,” the spokesperson said.
“The condition of the River Wye is a result of many inter-related factors, of which excess nutrient is but one. Catchment land is dominated by agriculture in many forms but Avara Foods does not manage land, nor does it spread manure or apply nutrients.
“Even if you ignore all of the other contributing factors, there is no logical reason to hold us accountable for the application of nutrient to catchment soil. The essential point that we do not manage land, spread manure, or apply nutrients is not impacted by changes up or down in the number of people that Leigh Day claims to represent.”
The claim was expanded in February to include Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water as a defendant, alleging that the water services provider was the second largest contributor of pollution in the river catchments.
Leigh Day has highlighted how phosphorus and nitrates present in sewage discharges also contribute to the pollution of the rivers.
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