Leigh Day to open Hereford office to support work on River Wye legal action

Law firm Leigh Day is set to open a new office in Hereford as the legal action over the alleged pollution of the River Wye region continues to grow. 

The office will be occupied by members of the firm’s environment team and will offer a point of contact for locals involved with the legal action, as Leigh Day affirms its commitment to communities affected by the deterioration of the River Wye and other environmental issues in the region.

The office will be located in the centre of Hereford so that those involved in the legal action or people wishing to know more can meet with the legal team. 

Leigh Day will hold open legal clinics about the River Wye action every Wednesday from 6 November 2024, helping provide a local presence in the region to ensure that the firm is offering its clients the best service it can. 

The address of Leigh Day’s Hereford office is Second Floor Office Suite, Broadway House, Broad Street, Hereford, HR4 9AR.

Leigh Day will also be hosting a roundtable event for local businesses at the Globe, Hay-on-Wye, at 6pm on Wednesday 13 November to discuss its legal action regarding the pollution of the river Wye.

The legal action sees communities in Herefordshire, Powys and Monmouthshire – represented by Leigh Day – bring legal action against Cargill PLC, Freemans of Newent Limited, and Avara Foods Limited.

They argue that pollution of the Wye, allegedly caused by poultry operations run by these companies, has had a negative impact on businesses which are dependent on its condition, as well as on people’s enjoyment of the river. 

Claimants say that an increase in poultry production has resulted in large amounts of phosphorous-rich manure running into the river, causing algal blooms. These blooms have led to problems with odour, insect swarms, biodiversity loss, and poor water quality. 

After launching the legal action in March 2024, lawyers at Leigh Day made the first legal move in July with a ‘letter before action’ sent to the companies involved.

Leigh Day partner Oliver Holland, who leads the claim, said: 

“We are delighted to be increasing our operational capacity in the Wye region. With the river being such a vital hub for local communities and businesses, we felt it was important to establish a presence in the area so that we can continue engaging with people locally as the legal action grows further.”