Published: March 27, 2007
Environment Agency launches investigation into Highbridge oil spill

These were the scenes at the River Brue in Highbridge on Tuesday afternoon (March 27th) where a big clean-up operation was launched following an oil spill.

The Environment Agency was using large booms and sandbags to contain the oil at the point where it discharged from a culvert into the river.

Agency officers swung into action on Monday after several members of the public reported seeing oil in the River Brue at 9am.

The spill was traced to the nearby Walrow Industrial Estate where investigations are continuing to pin-point the source of the pollution.

Absorbants and booms were used by Agency staff to slow the spread of the fuel oil. A tanker was also used to pump the oil from the watercourse.

"We deployed the absorbant booms as quickly as possible but it is believed the pollution had started the night before. Very little oil was coming under the booms this morning which is encouraging as it shows we have prevented the spread of oil downstream," Brian Payne for the Environment Agency told Burnham-On-Sea.com.

"We are looking to deal with the residual oil on the river, but we are aware that some of the oil has gone out to sea. It was fortunate members of the public responded so quickly to this incident and rang our pollution hotline."

The Environment Agency is liaising with Natural England, the RSPB and other conservation groups. In the meantime, investigations are continuing into the environmental impact of the pollution.

Spokesman Paul Gainey told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Tuesday evening: "We have managed to locate the source of the pollution to a nearby trading estate where an estimated 2,000 litres of heating oil had leaked into the river. Three tankers have now been utilised to collect the oil from the watercourse and remove the residual fuel from the surface of the water."

"Initial reports suggest there are no dead fish or elvers and there is no evidence of any oiled birds at this stage. Several waders have been spotted feeding normally, which is an encouraging sign. Work is still underway to minimise the impact of the pollution."

It is not the first time that an oil spill has occurred on the river. Last November, Burnham-On-Sea.com reported on an identical incident at the same spot - see link below for full details.

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Oil spill hits River Brue in Highbridge