Newbury river 'pollution' has devastated wildlife, residents claim
WILDLIFE is reportedly missing from a local watercourse amid claims that pollution was allowed to taint it, unchecked.
For weeks, people living near a construction site in London Road, Newbury, complained of a sulphur smell and eye irritation, coinciding with obvious discolouration in the watercourse.
Since a Newbury Weekly News report highlighted the issue last week, the situation is said to have improved.
But some fear that damage has already been done to the aquatic ecosystem.
Chris Cooper said: "As a local resident near the stream I can confirm all of the detail in your report and have experienced milky coloured water and a sulphur smell.
"Sadly the statement about wildlife is also correct.
"The stream is usually teaming with wildlife but has been ominously empty for the last few weeks."
Another resident reported seeing dead fish.
One of those who raised the alarm, Michael Slater, said this week: "The situation seems to have improved in the last few days...but there is still no wildlife."
The stream runs into the Kennet and Avon Canal and eventually into the River Lambourn – a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
The NWN has received several similar reports from residents.
West Berkshire Council has said the issue is one for the Environment Agency.
But, as reported last week, an agency officer has written to residents stating: "Unfortunately, because the Environment Agency has received a budget cut compared to funds received last year, we are now only able to respond to the most serious environmental incidents.
"Therefore, we will not be taking any further action in this instance."
Nevertheless, a spokesman for West Berkshire Council said this week that the council stance had not changed.
The developers signed up to a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) which states: “Silty water will be treated to allow suspended solids to settle out before disposal.
"Treatment is likely to include settlement tanks (eg siltbuster)."
Some siltbusters treat the water with the addition of strong mineral acids such as hydrochloric, sulphuric or nitric acid and this has been known to cause pollution problems.
However, groundworks contractor KCL Contruction Group has stated: "All ground water abstracted from the excavation was passed through a siltbuster... the water was visually inspected at all times to ensure that the siltbuster was operating correctly and that the discharge water did not contain any suspended solids.
"Only when this was satisfied was water then discharged into the adjacent watercourse... we can confirm that no hazardous liquids or materials were discharged into the watercourse... any oils/fuels/chemicals on site and are situated away from any surface watercourses."
Residents are sceptical and Mr Slater said: "The problem seems to have abated now, thankfully.
"But what's the point of having an environmental health department or an Environment Agency if they do nothing?"