Leigh Day lawyers will hold “Speak Up” events next month to meet with the communities affected by pollution of the River Wye.

During the events, they will hear about people’s experiences and provide more information about the legal action against food producers Avara Foods and its parent company Cargill PLC.

The legal action roadshow will run from Monday, July 8 to Saturday, July 14 at locations across the Wye area including Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, and Powys.

Speeches will be made by local activists and campaigners who are passionate about cleaning up the river, and by people who are already a part of the legal action.

The community legal action is arguing that the impact of intensive poultry farming in the Wye area by Avara Foods and Cargill PLC has created excess phosphorus that is the leading cause of pollution in the Wye and its tributaries, affecting the wildlife, local businesses and recreation.

The Leigh Day River Wye legal team recently attended the Hay Festival, to meet residents and hear their thoughts about the legal claim. The upcoming roadshow will allow more people who are interested in joining the claim to meet the team and find out more information.

The dates and venues for the roadshow are as follows:

• Dingestow Village Hall, Dingestow, Monday, July 8 (4:30pm – 6:30pm, talks at 5:30pm)

• The Left Bank Village, Hereford, Wednesday, July 10 (5pm – 8pm, talks start at 6:30pm) 

• Goodrich Village Hall, Goodrich, Tuesday, July 9 (5pm – 8pm, talks start at 6:30pm)

• Grange Court, Leominster, Thursday, July 11 (5:30pm – 8:30pm, talks start at 6:30pm)

• The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, Friday, July 12 (5pm – 8pm, talks start at 6:30pm)

• Penybont & District Community Centre, Penybont, Sunday, July 14 (12pm – 4pm, talks start at 2pm)

Oliver Holland, Celine O’Donovan, and Benji Gourgey from Leigh Day’s River Wye legal team will attend the events and answer questions.

Mr Holland said: “I look forward to meeting more residents of the Wye area to tell them about our legal action against Avara and Cargill and to hear about how the pollution of their rivers as impacted them.”