A major operation to check the threat of pollution to both the River Kennet and the River Og has been mounted by Esso, who have set up nine monitoring points on the Manton Estate land through which the rivers run.
“The heartening thing is how seriously Esso are taking the situation,” Charlotte Hitchmough, director of Action for the Kennet (ARK) told Marlborough News Online. “They have got their own team of people up there and temporary buildings, oil rigs in what is quite a big operation.
“And they are checking water samples daily. They send them off for testing and if they have got hydro-carbons in them then they have a plan to roll out to stop any pollution spreading.
“The Environment Agency have provided all the groundwater modelling data to Esso so they can see where the water goes and they are happy that the right sites have been identified for the testing operations.
She added: “I talked to Thames Water about it last week. They are keeping an eye on the situation but they are not seriously concerned at the moment.
“It is a game of wait and see. Nobody knows at the moment when they might be able to say ‘All Clear’.”
Wiltshire Council is also involved in co-ordinating the operation.
It is understood too that one reason why no public announcement has been made of the pollution threat is that it is on the area where the two rivers pass through the Manton Estate, owned by the millionaire Sangster family, which is currently on the market for £26 million.
Residents of Rabley Wood, part of the estate, are fighting a bitter battle with the Sangsters against their plans to build an estate of 46 houses on recreation land.
“This is the first we have heard about this pollution threat situation,” Jayne Baker, spokeswoman for the residents, told Marlborough News Online. “It could obviously be a great embarrassment for the Manton Estate.”
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A statement issued today (Monday) by Esso environmental services project manager Phil Holt said: “A fuel leak was discovered on Wednesday 2 April near Manton in Wiltshire. “The leak occurred following an attempt by fuel thieves to tap the buried Midline pipeline, which carries fuel from the Fawley Refinery to the Birmingham Fuels Terminal. “The pipeline was quickly repaired and has resumed operation, and there is no indication of any impact on human health as a result of the leak.” He added: “Our environmental specialists are working to assess any impact and take any appropriate further action, and we are co-operating with the Environment Agency and other public agencies in this regard. “ We remain committed to resolving the situation fully.” |
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