It is clear that although the fire operation may be drawing to a close, the environmental one will continue for many days.
Yesterday the Environment Agency were out in force along the Old mainline canal near Brasshouse Lane. Water was being tested and pumping activity was clear to see. It looked a worrying situation regarding oxygen levels in the water and fish, although no bird life appears to be affected currently. Part of the problem is the policy of “dilute and disperse” as opposed to “control and contain.”
There have ben some disastrous fish kills along the BCN network in recent years, caused by fires or chemical pollution.
In 2011 several miles of canal around Wolverhampton were allowed to be polluted before common sense took hold and the canal was blocked off. I think the British Waterways policy at the time was that they did not want to upset boaters- this being one of their main revenue streams. Prior to this, the stench mongers of Greets Green known as Robinson Brothers (member of the Chemical industries association), were fined a record amount- over £400,000 for polluting the Walsall canal for several miles with thousands of fish wiped out. Once agian this situation could have been controlled if it had been contained by blocking off the canal.
I hope they do not hestitate to block off this canal to prevent any fall in oxygen levels continuing, especially given the upturn in the hot weather.
The roads are now open around the area affected, and my opinion on this matter has not changed with regard to the cause. Waste left on the ground, not what came out of the sky. Passing this site regularly, a fag end or firework over the privet hedge could have resulted in the same consequence. But blame it on the Chinese seems an easier distraction for the business community.
We hope that the EA do review their policies on the amount of waste alllowed to be stored on these type of site, and that the issue does not become one of smokescreen to protect the recycling industry, rather than the environment.