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Sept 2022

Last Updated: 12/09/2022

Environment

'Hundreds' of fish killed by pollution on Harrogate's Oak Beck

by John Plummer

| 12 Sept, 2022

Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency are investigating the incident, which has seen the beck change colour.

Hundreds of fish are believed to have died in a pollution incident at Oak Beck, Harrogate.

The cause of the incident, which occurred at Oak Beck Park, close to the retail park, is not yet known.

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

"Our teams, along with the Environment Agency, have conducted initial investigations after reports of a pollution at Oak Beck over the weekend.

"Our tests have indicated the substance entering the beck is not sewage. We are continuing to investigate and will also be visiting local businesses to try and trace the source."

The beck flows into the River Nidd.

Councillor Paul Haslam, who represents Harrogate Old Bilton on Harrogate Borough Council and Bilton and Nidd Gorge on North Yorkshire County Council, informed Yorkshire Water of the incident after being notified by a resident yesterday.

Cllr Haslam posted some images, which we have published, that were sent to him by the resident.

They show fish floating on the surface and the water looking extremely brown.

Cllr Haslam said the only way to get over the seriousness and upsetting nature of what had happened was to quote the person who reported it, who said:

“There are hundreds of dead fish in the water. I am presuming it's sewage by the colour and presence of foam. No smell though.

"I could have cried this morning at the scale of the disaster. As I took my first photo evidence, from the bridge on Oak Beck Road, a kingfisher flew under the bridge heading downstream.”

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said it was unable to comment on what, if any, action it had taken because it was not responding to media inquiries about non life-threatening incidents during the Queen's mourning period.

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'Hundreds' of fish killed by pollution on Harrogate's Oak Beck

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