sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
Anyone had an EA inspection recently? If so what were they like.
Environment Agency Inspection
- Thread starter sticky
- Start date
- Location
- North Notts
Last year & very helpful.
sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
Good to know, thank you.
wasted years
Member
- Location
- Cumbrian born and bread
Tell them nothing my mate gave the wrong answer on sheep dip disposal and they took the farm apart.
Unless you give them the evidence they can't do anything.
Unless you give them the evidence they can't do anything.
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
Had one last year too, and as someone who hates inspections it was one of the most stressful live had, a walk around the farm looking at silage pits, muck storage, chemical storage and diesel tanks as well as checking the stream that runs through the farm then a couple of hours in the house looking at NVZ paperwork, taking notes and bashing away on their calculators to see if all the calculations were right.
I was bloody glad when they left having found nothing wrong, I hope I never have to go through that again.
I was bloody glad when they left having found nothing wrong, I hope I never have to go through that again.
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
I found my inspection nerve wracking and I gave them full cooperation, I'd be worried that if I was uncooperative they'd be even more determined to dig deeper. I went with the plan of being as nice as possible and hope they beggar off sooner rather than later. It took more than one cup of tea to quench my thirst when they'd gone my throat was that dry.
sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
The letter came yesterday and they want to come on Wednesday but I won't be here as I've agreed to drive a wagon this week for somebody, so tomorrow morning we will see how they are feeling at the start of another week!
- Location
- West Suffolk
Nerve wracking! But be agreeable and friendly.
- Location
- North Notts
The inspections are to help you & prevent problems from happening in the future and anything found wrong would have to be extremely serious for action to be taken.
You should only be worried if you are aware something is wrong.
You should only be worried if you are aware something is wrong.
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
It certainly didn't feel like that when I had an inspection, they went through my records with a fine tooth comb, it certainly felt like they were keen to find something wrong.
We had a similar experience.
The female inspector we had could only refer back to her rules and regulations,everything by the book.
Could have shoved her in the darned slurry pit.
sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
Just spoken to the EA and explained I wouldn't be here, we discussed the Farm and what I do and as I don't produce any slurry or clamp silage they have decided not to come. PHEW .
- Location
- Wiltshire
I had one last autumn. 2 hours looking around everything especially slurry and silage. Followed by 3 hours in the office mostly on crop records and nvz. Ea officer was helpful and I did learn a few useful things. But there was no pulling the wool over her eyes.
My advice is treble check nvz paperwork. I think it is better to be seen to be trying to get the calculation right even if they are not quite there, rather than having nothing to show them. If you use a computer print everything so you have an impressive file to show. If the printouts have Planet and Manner written at the top you are halfway there.
You should have a letter explaining everything they wish to look at.
Bg
My advice is treble check nvz paperwork. I think it is better to be seen to be trying to get the calculation right even if they are not quite there, rather than having nothing to show them. If you use a computer print everything so you have an impressive file to show. If the printouts have Planet and Manner written at the top you are halfway there.
You should have a letter explaining everything they wish to look at.
Bg
- Location
- South Wales UK
Crazy where public sewer overflows in gutter in village for years and no one worries ?
- Location
- North Notts
These inspections are pretty pointless when the EA fail to dredge rivers & maintain water ways and everything ends up with contaminated floodwater.
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
Not really, any problems found are someone else's, the EA can be seen to be doing something without having to address such problems as dredging rivers which would cost millions they haven't got so they go out and look for farmers who's paperwork ain't in order, I'm sure they've got statistics to prove this needs to be done. Sounds good saying X percent of farmers were in breach of regulations even if these were paperwork errors and not actual pollution.
MickMoor
Member
- Location
- Bonsall, UK
I've had contact with the EA on ywo separate farms last year. The first was as a result of an inspection, by a young lad, fresh out of university, who told us what we couldn't do, but would make no suggestion as to a solution,in case it was wrong. (His words). The second timeturned out to be a slightly more mature lady, came to have a chat about a new slurry system we were putting in for a differnet customer. After the young lad I was dreading our meeting, but she was friendly and helpful. Chalk and cheese.
- Location
- Leicester/England
There are still some good officers at the EA, although a great deal of the more experienced ones have left. Unfortunately a lack of experience means that officers revert to the rule book rather than the encyclopedia of common sense.
MickMoor
Member
- Location
- Bonsall, UK
Certainly true! The young lad just wound me , (and the farmer) up.
- Location
- Leicester/England
I used to approach NVZ visits as a chance for a chat with the farmer which gradually led on to looking at the required records. It worked well, half the skill of a regulator is the ability to read people, not just the rule book.