Alix
Bell - 22-Sep-2006 - Members of the public are
being urged to come forward with information about
a pollution incident that killed thousands of
fish in a Bolton brook.
The Environment Agency has launched
an investigation after around 10,000 fish were
found dead along an 11 kilometre stretch of Eagerly
Brook in Belmont. The fish were mainly mature
brown trout, some of which weighted up to 3lbs,
but there were also a number of smaller fish including
sticklebacks.
Rumours that the pollution had
killed fish in Belmont Valley Fishery and the
Ornamental Reservoir are not true.
The alarm was first raised last
Tuesday evening (12 September) when a member of
the public reported seeing a blue liquid and foam
in the brook. A separate pollution incident was
reported last Wednesday afternoon (13 September).
A team of 10 environment officers
and fisheries officers supported by staff from
United Utilities attended the scene to carry out
tests and launch a clean-up operation.
Water quality samples have been
taken and are being analysed by scientists in
the Environment Agency’s laboratory in Nottingham.
The results are expected early next week.
Steve Richardson, the lead investigator
for the incident, said: "We suspect that
the first incident was caused by somebody illegally
dumping a chemical or toxin into the brook while
the second incident seems to have been caused
by someone emptying the contents of a septic tank
and/or chip fat or into the brook.
"This irresponsible action
has proved deadly to the fish and it could take
years for the river to recover.
"We are determined to find
the culprits and are appealing to anybody who
has seen or heard anything that could help us
with our investigation. One member of the public
reported a van pumping waste into a manhole and
we are particularly keen to speak to the owner
of this van."
Anyone with information is encouraged
to call the Environment Agency for free and in
confidence on 0800 80 70 60.
