Environment Agency’s Blunders Leave Family Business in Limbo for 12 Years
A South-West family firm has been left battling years of stress and uncertainty after the Environment Agency bungled their bid to harness renewable energy. Brothers Steve and Ewan Earl run a small building company in Wiltshire and wanted to use water from the River Avon to generate power for a redeveloped mill.
Ombudsman Slams Agency’s Mishandling of Hydropower Licence
The Earl brothers took their complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) after the Agency’s errors dragged out their application. In December 2015, the PHSO partly upheld the complaint, revealing the Agency had mismanaged competing water extraction applications, risking river water levels and delaying the project.
- Agency made mistakes with competing licence requests
- Poor communication worsened delays and anxiety
- Brothers’ business progress and finances hit hard
Despite admitting some failings, the Environment Agency has refused to fully accept responsibility or fix the damage. The delay has stalled the Earls’ business and left them in financial turmoil.
Brothers Speak Out: ’12 Years of Agony’
“Our families and our business have been put through 12 years of emotional, psychological, physical and financial agony due to a litany of bad practice, bias, bullying and maladministration by the Agency,” Steve Earl said.
“We’ve faced obstacle after obstacle, been misled and lied to. Our reputation is tarnished and financial credibility shot. We watched our dreams crumble.”
Ombudsman and Industry Experts Condemn Agency’s Failures
Ombudsman Rob Behrens warned: “When errors are identified, people rightly expect them to be acknowledged and put right. The Environment Agency’s refusal to comply with recommendations and properly compensate the Earls shows a failure of the constitutional process.”
“This behaviour from public bodies erodes trust in vital services.”
Simon Hamlyn, CEO of the British Hydropower Association, added:
“This case sadly echoes the experience of many small hydropower operators who rely on the Environment Agency. Mistakes must be fixed swiftly to avoid long-term harm to businesses and communities.”
“We need more green energy schemes, including hydropower. The Environment Agency must maintain public confidence by managing licences fairly and effectively.”
