The law regarding Manure storage

[Steve.]

Are there any laws regarding storing manure on allotment plots and/or sites?

I know many (myself included) store manure to allow rot-down before use and I have never heard of any issues with this, but what about a bulk delivery and storage to an allotment site, for plot holders use?



"X" marks the spot where our gardening club wish to store manure which is around 50-60 yards from the river and just to one side of the carpark, but when the club asked the Parish council, a flat refusal was given without reason. Now the Parish council has been shaken up since then and a new council now sits who are a bit move forward thinking, but before we go and ask again we wish to be sure of our facts. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Steve...:)

[Steve.]

[ceres]

It's quite a complicated subject.  There are regulations for farmers and stables storing manure to prevent pollution of water-courses - I have no idea if they would apply to allotments.  To get a definitive asnwer you should call the Environment Agency.

This page:

http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/water/waterquality/diffuse/nitrate/help-for-farmers.htm

has some guidance notes and a link to the DEFRA Helpline.

ETA:

This is what Surrey County Council says about the subject:

http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspages.nsf/LookupWebPagesByTITLE_RTF/Manure+storage+and+disposal+advice?opendocument

[Trevor_D]

We have an on-site stables and they pile the manure so that we can collect it. As we have been re-vamping our drainage trenches over the past couple of years, we called in the Environment Agency for a site visit. The advice on the Surrey website seems to be an accurate crib of what we were told. Basically, the concern is run-off getting into the water courses: if the heap is at least 10 metres from any trench, drain or stream it's OK. And if it's on a solid base, there are all sorts of regulations concerning run-off, but it's OK to heap it on soil.

The simple answer is that, yes the regulations apply to allotments just as they do for farmers. If in doubt, get someone in. Is there any sort of drainage trench that goes into the river? And as I see it, the council don't make the regulations here, although they will have a duty to make sure they are followed.

[ceres]

If it's on soil, doesn't it have to be moved every 12 months?  Or did I make that bit up ::)

[Trevor_D]

Not sure, but it rings a bell. Mind you, the Environment Agency saw our manure heap and were fine about it.

These days, with 100+ members, it doesn't stay there that long! A few years back - when we had 3 dozen members, only half of whom were active - we had a heap the size of a bungalow!