Law firm to seek compensation for River Wye pollution

A law firm that specialises in environmental litigation is building a case against poultry giant Avara Foods to try to win compensation for thousands of people and businesses in the River Wye catchment who may have been hit by high levels of water pollution.

Manchester-based Leigh Day claims that industrial-scale chicken farming, instigated by Avara, has been the “overwhelming cause of phosphorous pollution which is damaging the River Wye”.

The firm points to the rapid expansion of poultry farming on behalf of Avara in recent years, which it says has led to the “unfavourable and declining” state of the River Wye.

Affected individuals might include swimmers, anglers and canoeists, while businesses reliant on tourism, hospitality and leisure may also have a claim, which could be worth “hundreds of millions of pounds”, says Leigh Day.