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Builder fined for opening sluice gate on flooded Somerset Levels | Builder fined for opening sluice gate on flooded Somerset Levels |
(35 minutes later) | |
A builder who tampered with sluice gates during last winter's floods on the Somerset Levels has been fined £1,000. | A builder who tampered with sluice gates during last winter's floods on the Somerset Levels has been fined £1,000. |
Lee Goddard, 40, from Hambridge, pleaded guilty to opening Slabgate sluice between 20 and 23 December. | Lee Goddard, 40, from Hambridge, pleaded guilty to opening Slabgate sluice between 20 and 23 December. |
Taunton Magistrates' Court heard his actions caused an estimated 45,000 cubic metres of water to head towards the village of Thorney. | Taunton Magistrates' Court heard his actions caused an estimated 45,000 cubic metres of water to head towards the village of Thorney. |
Goddard claimed he had wanted to divert flood water away from his property. | Goddard claimed he had wanted to divert flood water away from his property. |
Prosecutors said the effect of Goddard's actions had caused the water levels in Thorney to rise. | Prosecutors said the effect of Goddard's actions had caused the water levels in Thorney to rise. |
However, they said it could not be known whether this had then directly caused damage to properties in the village. | However, they said it could not be known whether this had then directly caused damage to properties in the village. |
The private prosecution was brought by the Parrett Internal Drainage Board. By opening the sluice gate, Goddard breached a local by-law and the Land Drainage Act. | |
Speaking after the court case, Nick Stevens, from the drainage board, said: "If this kind of activity were undertaken across the whole of Somerset, it would be anarchy and that's not how we manage flood risk in Somerset." | Speaking after the court case, Nick Stevens, from the drainage board, said: "If this kind of activity were undertaken across the whole of Somerset, it would be anarchy and that's not how we manage flood risk in Somerset." |
Goddard was also ordered to pay £1,500 for the prosecution costs and the cost of repairing the sluice gate. | Goddard was also ordered to pay £1,500 for the prosecution costs and the cost of repairing the sluice gate. |
Large parts of the Somerset Levels were battered by storms during the 2013-14 winter months with hundreds of people evacuated from their homes. | Large parts of the Somerset Levels were battered by storms during the 2013-14 winter months with hundreds of people evacuated from their homes. |