JOHNSON Matthey has been accused of polluting the environment around Royston. The case has been brought against the company by the Environment Agency. Five alleged incidents are said to have taken place between January 2002 and July 2003, and a further th

JOHNSON Matthey has been accused of polluting the environment around Royston. The case has been brought against the company by the Environment Agency. Five alleged incidents are said to have taken place between January 2002 and July 2003, and a further three are alleged to have happened between August 2005 and November 2005 in breach of the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000. The company is accused of emitting high levels of substances (oxides of nitrogen) into the atmosphere without informing the Environment Agency, failing to install and operate an automatic process shutdown system, and failing to give two employees appropriate training and written instructions to enable them to carry out their duties. The case was adjourned for the second time at Stevenage Magistrates' Court on Friday until May 22, because the Environment Agency said it had to complete a report into its investigations.