Landowner facing legal action over ‘decimation’ of Herefordshire river

Works on the River Lugg had destroyed the habitats of wildlife such as otters, kingfisher and salmon, Natural England said. Photograph: Herefordshire Wildlife Trust/PA

A landowner is facing legal action for what environmental regulators say is the decimation of a protected river.

Natural England and the Environment Agency (EA) say the charges against the landowner include causing damage to a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), carrying out clearance and reprofiling of the riverbank which was likely to cause damage to or endanger the stability of the river and allowing silt to discharge into the river.