The University of Cambridge has today been ordered by Cambridge Magistrates’ Court to pay over £35,000 after pleading guilty to charges of polluting the waterways of the River Ouse.

The university was prosecuted by the Environment Agency, who accused the university of twice allowing “poisonous, noxious or polluting matter” to enter into tributaries of the river at Park Farm, Madingley, without the authorisation of an environmental permit. The offences took place on two separate occasions last year, on 10 May and 10 June.

The university entered guilty pleas to both offences, and was fined a total of £28,000, plus £7,483 in legal costs.

In response to the verdict, the university said: “The University will strengthen its risk assessment procedures in the relation to the spreading of slurry: in future the University farm will consult with two senior directors in the Estate Management Division before proceeding.”