15 February 2024
Failing to deal with captive poultry when an All-Wales Avian Influenza Protection Zone was in place has cost a north Powys man over £2,700 after they have been prosecuted by the county council.
Alastair Meikle of Gardd Afon, Tafolwern, Llanbrynmair was prosecuted by Powys County Council’s Animal Health Team for the offence.
The defendant, who didn’t attend Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court on Wednesday 14 February, was charged for failing to adjust to the necessities of the related Declaration of an All-Wales Avian Influenza Prevention Zone and an Article 82 Notice issued by an authorised person, requiring him to deal with captive poultry.
This was opposite to Articles 6 and 76 of the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Wales) (No.2) Order 2006 and Sections 73 and 75 of the Animal Health Act 1981.
The courtroom heard that regardless of the poultry housing order being in place since 2 December, 2022, the defendant had not housed his poultry. Meikle was suggested by council officers of the necessities to his poultry on a number of events between 15 December, 2022 and eight February, 2023 – each in writing and in person.
When visited by council officers, the defendant was threatening and verbally abusive in direction of them and claimed that he had not consented to the related laws and due to this fact didn’t intend to adjust to it, the courtroom was informed.
Meikle had been repeatedly made conscious of the requirement to deal with or enclose all captive poultry on his premises however didn’t adjust to the necessities of the discover whereas there was a Wales-wide safety zone in place to forestall the unfold of Avian Influenza.
Outbreaks of Avian Influenza have been confirmed in Powys together with one round 15 miles away from the defendant’s tackle on the time of their non-compliance. The courtroom was informed that this non-compliance with the housing order continued till the date the order was lifted in July 2023.
Meikle was discovered responsible in his absence and was fined £660, ordered to pay £1,820 prices and a sufferer surcharge of £264.
Cllr Richard Church, Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, stated: “The introduction of the rigorous biosecurity measures was to guard poultry and captive birds from avian influenza and it was essential that each one fowl keepers in Wales adopted these to guard their birds and forestall the unfold of the illness.
“The defendant’s continued non-compliance and whole disregard for the discover and biosecurity measures meant that he put his flock, in addition to the flock of different fowl keepers, in danger and elevated the chance of the illness spreading.
“When it was discovered that he was not complying, our officers rightly took the breach severely and acted, which has resulted on this profitable prosecution.”
