COOPER Tire Europe has denied giving permission for the works that caused devastating environmental damage to the fields in the Murray Walk area, and have asked the leaseholder to repair the damage.
Last month, residents in the Murray Walk area were horrified to discover damage caused to trees, hedgerows and the habitats of protected species of wildlife after local farmer Tim Farthing from Halfway House Farm in Beanacre, built alternative access to the fields he rents from Cooper Tire. He said he was told by the Environment Agency that his normal route over Black Bridge was unsafe to use.
“With a hurricane approaching I needed emergency access to my maize crops to harvest them before damage could be caused. With Cooper’s permission I built a temporary crossing through the grass fields and into the river flat where my maize was,” said Tim Farthing in the last issue of the Melksham News.
However, Cooper Tire Europe has denied giving permission for the temporary crossing that caused the damage, instead stating that they were working with him to build a crossing using concrete pipes. They have asked the farmer to “remedy this situation in accordance with applicable laws and environmental requirements.”
The statement, provided by marketing communications manager for Cooper Tire Europe, Sarah McRoberts says, “Cooper Tire is a responsible member of the Melksham community. In addition to our role as a local employer, we support the community in several ways, including being a good environmental citizen. We understand the importance of protecting wildlife and lands, and can tell you that we did not at any time grant permission to the farmer to take the actions he took on our land and adjacent parcels.
“Our discussions with the farmer regarding the construction of a crossing revolved around the use of concrete pipes, which would be properly installed to allow access to the fields he leases from us. These discussions did not mention the possibility of creating a “temporary” crossing, nor did they authorise him to dig up soil and vegetation away from the crossing point.
“Indeed, we have sent a letter to the farmer drawing his attention to these facts as well as others. That letter reminded him of his obligations under our lease and reinforced that he must remedy this situation in accordance with applicable laws and environmental requirements, with such advice or directions that he may receive from the proper environmental authorities.
“The farmer has been leasing this land from Cooper Tire for more than 10 years and we have not experienced issues such as this with him in the past. We have reminded him of his obligations under the lease and will address our objections to his unauthorised actions privately.”