Environment Agency called to investigate potential Ripon pollutionThe Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water are being called upon to investigate a foaming discharge into the River Ure in Ripon.
There are fears the discharge could be potentially harmful to humans, aquatic life and water fowl.
The Stray Ferret contacted the EA incident line after seeing the discharge yesterday and understands that the stretch of river near the Duchess of Kent Bridge on the A61 Ripon bypass has been affected since the weekend.
James Thornborough, an internationally-recognised authority on spillage on land and water, reported the incident to YW and said it would be normal practice for them to share the information with the EA.
The expert, who lives in nearby Sharow, told the Stray Ferret:
“I pass this part of river, which can be seen from the Dishforth Road, on a regular basis and on Sunday noticed the foaming on the water coming from a drainage outlet that feeds into the Ure.
“In my opinion this is not normal occurrence for this part of the river and that is why I reported it.
“It certainly warrants scrutiny by the EA to find out what exactly is being discharged and whether it is benign or potential harmful to people and animals.
“If it is discovered to be harmful, urgent remedial action will need to be taken.”
The drainage outlet (top right on the photograph) has been the source of the white foaming substance.
Mr Thornborough added:
“The EA, as the national competent authority for protecting the natural environment of the UK, is bound to assess any reported pollution incident and I would urge anybody who witnesses something like this, that looks out of place, to report it as soon as possible.
“Rivers collect water naturally from the atmosphere (rainfall), surface drainage (run off), ground waters, and underground aquifers.
“Unfortunately rivers must also cope with Industrial waste. Controlled industrial discharges are subject to license conditions. Uncontrolled industrial discharges occur due to operating controls failures, accidents or deliberate intention (criminal behaviour).”
What can the Environment Agency do?
Mr Thornborough said he expected the EA to analyse water samples. He added:
“Industrial pollution can reduce the concentration of bio dissolved oxygen in the water phase which can cause fish kills.
“At the very least, the biodiversity of the River Ure in the surrounds of this foaming event, has likely been impacted and microscopic marine organisms will have been killed upsetting the food chain.
“With this in mind, all stakeholders – from business operators, to the public and compliance organisations such as the EA, have a role to play in ensuring that our precious water resources are safeguarded.”
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Call for urgent remedy to Ripon residents’ flooding issueRipon City Council is calling for urgent action and a detailed investigation led by the Environment Agency after Storm Franklin brought unprecedented flooding to Hillshaw Park Way last month.
The owners of 11 affected properties, who are still dealing with insurance claims, a clean up operation and months of misery and disruption ahead, are seeking answers about the causes of the flood amid concerns that the drainage infrastructure serving their area is not fit for purpose.
Residents were invited to an extraordinary meeting of the council called by Mayor and ward councillor Eamon Parkin and fellow ward councillor Sid Hawke.
Irwin Blenkiron and his neighbour Andrew Jarvis spoke on behalf of all residents to highlight their concerns and seek remedial action to ensure that a similar incident does not occur in the future.
Irwin Blenkiron (front, centre) and Andrew Jarvis (checked shirt) spoke on behalf of residents of Hillshaw Park Way at the extraordinary meeting.
Mr Blenkiron, an 80-year-old retired civil servant, told the meeting about an urgent pre-dawn phone call he received from a neighbour on February 21, warning that flood water was rapidly rising in the street in front of his home.
With the need for him and his wife Carol to evacuate their bungalow growing by the minute, cars were moved from the drive to higher ground and friends unaffected by the flood who live further down the street, welcomed them into their warm and dry home.
After the council meeting, Mr Blenkiron told the Stray Ferret:
“My wife and I have lived in the street since 1985 and we have never experienced anything like this before.”
Linda Beck, who has lived in the Hillshaw Park Way for 14 years, has written on behalf of affected residents to Yorkshire Water, expressing doubts about the pumping station and associated drainage infrastructure serving the area.
Yorkshire Water’s pumping station, which serves Hillshaw Park Way and Priest Lane.
She and neighbours believe it is no longer able to cope with increased capacity of water caused by more frequent stormy weather. exacerbated by run-off water from developments, including the nearby St Michael’s Retail Park at Rotary Way and the adjacent Cathedral Meadows residential development.
Linda Beck had to throw away items from her garage after they were saturated by flood water.
Her letter was sent to the developers, along with North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council, and Ripon’s MP Julian Smith.
The pressure of water, caused by the February 21 flood, blew the cover off one of a series of storm drains located on land to the rear of Mr and Mrs Blenkiron’s home.
Ms Beck, whose garage, drive and back garden were flooded, said:
“I haven’t suffered the same degree of damage that other neighbours have experienced, but it’s a mess, massive inconvenience and I could have done without this.
“We certainly don’t want to have to put up with this again and it is clear to us that action is required.”
Andrew Jarvis, like other neighbours, is facing months of misery ahead as he waits for his home to dry out.
Those views are shared by Mr Jarvis, who who has lived in Hillshaw Park Way for 30 years. He pointed out:
“We need the causes of the February flood to be sorted out before the next storm arrives.
“The flood waters were totally unexpected and rose so quickly that there was no way of keeping them out of my house and garage.
“Now, along with Mr and Mrs Blenkirion, Linda and other neighbours on the street, I’m having to deal with the clean-up operation, with dehumidifiers around my home on virtually all the time making it hard to sleep.
“I even had to find a temporary home for my tropical fish, because it’s not suitable to have the aquarium here in these conditions.”
Yorkshire Water’s response
In response to the the letter sent by Ms Beck, Anthony Sumner, Yorkshire Water operational complaints champion, said that the flooding in Hillshaw Park Way occurred after the River Ure burst its banks and “the main surface water line out of Ripon had nowhere to go”.
Mr Sumner added:
“We were called to the sewerage pumping station as we had a report from a customer who thought the flooding was as a result of our asset failing.
“We met with a customer and showed that the sewerage pumping station was pumping as normal (by lifting both pumps and checked (sic) the rising main discharge point) .The issue as far as the pumping station was concerned was that it was taking on flood water and surface water (and) as such therefore couldn’t cope.
“There has never been any question for needing to increase capacity at this pumping station under normal conditions.
“Regarding increasing the size of the pumps, when the system was designed it was determined that the size of the pumps would meet the needs of the area, as has been shown under normal circumstances our pumps meet the requirements they were designed for.
“We would not look to increase the size or capacity at this time. Increasing the capacity of the pumps would detriment (sic) residents and communities further down the system especially during exceptional rainfall and severe storms similar to the ones we have recently experienced.”
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Call for investigation by the Environment Agency
Cllr Hawke said:
“The problem with this response is that weather events like Storm Franklin and before that Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice, are becoming the norm and are occurring more frequently.
“Once you add in the additional waste and drainage water generated by new housing and other developments in Ripon, it is clear that capacities are going to be stretched on a more regular basis.
“That is why we want the Environment Agency, as the rivers authority, to head the investigation into what happened at Hillshaw Park Way in February, so that urgent improvements can can be made.
Investigation into ‘sea of bubbles’ in Harrogate’s Hookstone BeckYorkshire Water says it is investigating an unusual incident where bubbles filled a section of Hookstone Beck today.
Two Stray Ferret readers contacted us with photos of the beck this morning when what appeared to be a sea of washing-up liquid bubbles appeared on the surface.
Andrew Mann said he was out for a walk near the Yorkshire Event Centre when he noticed “something clearly had gone wrong”.
He said bubbles had risen 10-feet-high and raised concerns about any fish that might be swimming in the beck, which feeds into Crimple Beck.
A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said the incident was not related to sewage pollution. He suspected somebody had poured detergent down a drain that is intended for rainwater and runs off into the beck.
An investigation is underway to find the source of the problem and whether the substance is harmful to wildlife. Yorkshire Water will then share its findings with the Environment Agency.
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River Nidd a ‘potential health risk’ after MPs’ vote on sewageResidents have said MPs voting against an amendment to stop raw sewage being pumped into rivers have created a “potential health risk” in the River Nidd.
Last week, MPs voted 268 to 204 against the Lords amendment, which means water companies such as Yorkshire Water can continue pumping raw sewage into British rivers.
Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough was among those voting against the amendment.
Last year, every section of the Nidd that runs through the Harrogate district failed water pollution tests due to wastewater contamination – including raw sewage.
The Nidd is used for recreation by families, swimmers and even competitors in Knaresborough Bed Race. Some have expressed disappointment at the MPs’ vote.
Jacqui Renton, from Knaresborough, who swims in the Nidd as part of her training for a British championships open water swimming competition, said:
“Last year the River Nidd failed water pollution tests due to the river being contaminated with wastewater. This included raw sewage, making swimming in it a potential health risk.
“More worryingly, raw sewage being discharged into our rivers of course has a bigger consequence for wildlife, threatening the biodiversity and ecosystem health, which is why urgent action is needed.”
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A section of the river in Knaresborough is also used by competitors in the annual bed race. Kevin Lloyd, chairman of the bed race committee, urged Yorkshire Water to stop pumping sewage into the river on the day of the event.
However, Mr Lloyd said more action was needed:
“Any initiative that protects the environment is a good thing so I am disappointed at this defeat.
“Yorkshire Water are sympathetic to the event and do what they can but there’s always more that can be done to protect the environment.”
Nidd a ‘huge leisure attraction’
Cllr Hannah Gostlow, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough Scriven Park on Harrogate Borough Council, also raised concerns as a councillor and local resident.
She said the Nidd was a “huge leisure attraction” used by paddle boarders and young children.
She added:
“The River Nidd is already polluted with wastewater, including with raw sewage, and failed recent pollution tests. The government should be stopping sewage going into our rivers full stop.”
The Stray Ferret contacted Mr Jones about the issue but he declined to reply.
However, he said on his Community News website that he would support a new amendment to the government’s Environment Bill providing a costed plan to reduce sewage in our waterways. He said:
“It would not be sensible to support such a complicated change without having a costed plan. This is what the Lords amendment lacked and why I did not support it.”
River Nidd pollution: hopeful signs for fish and wildlifeClean water is being pumped into the River Nidd amid hopeful signs that most fish survived last weekend’s category one major pollution incident.
A 12-mile stretch between Gouthwaite reservoir and Hampsthwaite turned chocolate brown on Saturday, prompting fears for the predominantly trout and grayling that inhabit the water and other forms of river life.
Yorkshire Water issued a statement on Sunday saying it had suspended safety work at Gouthwaite by its contractor Mott MacDonald Bentley, which it is thought may have stirred up huge quantities of silt.
The River Nidd turned chocolate brown.
The company is excavating a trench as part of a long-term project to install a siphon at Gouthwaite dam to enable it to rapidly reduce water levels in an emergency.
Yorkshire Water has declined to comment since the weekend when asked by the Stray Ferret what action it has taken this week and whether it had conducted an environmental impact assessment before the project began.
John Shillcock, president of Nidderdale Angling Club, last night told the Stray Ferret he had heard from multiple sources Yorkshire Water has installed a pipe and was pumping in clean water from further up the reservoir and over the dam. He added:
“The river is much clearer and the cloudiness has passed on downstream.
“The Nidderdale AC secretary and I visited the river today and were much relieved to see that fish were rising and there was evidence of aquatic insect life.
“So this is good news for now, but Yorkshire Water have not made any attempt to let us or other interested parties know what measures they are intending to take to enable them to continue with the siphon installation without the same thing happening again.”
No fish deaths reported
The Stray Ferret asked the Environment Agency, which declared a category one major pollution incident, if it could clarify what action had been taken this week.
A spokesman said it was an ongoing investigation that would take a while to conclude and no further details were available. He added there were no reports of any fish deaths so far.
The River Nidd last weekend.
Gouthwaite, which is three miles north of Pateley Bridge, is one of three reservoirs in upper Nidderdale, along with Scar House and Angram, which are further upstream.
The other two supply water but Gouthwaite was built to regulate the flow of the upper Nidd.
Gouthwaite is also a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest in Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Major incident opened into River Nidd ‘disaster’The Environment Agency has opened a category 1 major pollution incident after a 12-mile stretch of the River Nidd turned chocolate brown.
Experts are still trying to assess the extent of the damage to fish and other river life between Gouthwaite reservoir and Hampsthwaite after huge quantities of silt flowed downstream on Saturday.
Anglers and ecologists are calling for action against whoever is responsible and urging the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water, which was carrying out safety work at Gouthwaite, to come up with a recovery plan.
An Environment Agency spokesman said today it “continued to investigate” the Yorkshire Water works, which is is thought may have stirred up the silt that flowed downstream on Saturday.
The spokesman added:
“Large quantities of silt in a river can harm fish and smother aquatic plants and invertebrates, starving them of light and oxygen.
“Whilst there is no longer any silt entering the river system, it may still be visible as it moves downstream. The Environment Agency continue to monitor the situation and assess the impacts to determine what further action may be necessary.”
With the water still discoloured, it remains difficult to assess the impact on river life.
The work at Gouthwaite dam
Dr. John Shillcock, president of Nidderdale Angling Club and a former ecology officer in the area, said:
“In my past experiences, quantities of sediment of this type block out light and can reduce oxygen levels in the river, harming or even killing river life including invertebrates and other organisms on which fish and other river life depend.
“We are awaiting reliable data on the level of sedimentation before we can assess what damage has been done to an extremely precious river system.
“We would like Yorkshire Water to work closely with the Environment Agency to collect as much data and samples as to work out the best course of action to minimise the immediate danger to river life, and to build a deliverable long-term strategy to enable the river to recover from this avoidable incident as quickly as possible.”
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The affected stretch of the Nidd is known for grayling and trout.
One angler, who asked not to be named, said the amount of silt would harm oxygen levels on which fish depend. He added:
“There should be some sort of action against whoever is responsible for this. It is an environmental disaster.”
‘Heartbreaking to see’
Alastair Ferneley, vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Dacre Banks, said:
“It’s just heartbreaking to see at the moment — it makes me feel sick in the pit of the stomach.
“As I understand it the slit could choke all the bottom dwelling invertebrates and take out the entire food chain — all the things I watch for: dippers, kingfishers, otters, most of the flying insects that spawn in the rivers, the birds and bats that feed on them.
“I’m hoping it won’t be as bad as a I fear it could be. What we need is a good flood to two to clear the silt out and quickly, but not sure that’s very likely.
“It’s a taste of how fragile the environment and everything that depends on it is.”
A Yorkshire Water spokeswoman said it had nothing to add to its statement yesterday, which said it was working with the Environment Agency to investigate what had caused the sediment in the River Nidd to be disturbed. The statement added:
“We’ve temporarily suspended some work our capital partners Mott MacDonald Bentley were doing upstream at Gouthwaite reservoir while we investigate.”
River Nidd turns brown after environmental ‘disaster’The River Nidd has turned chocolate brown amid fears for the lives of thousands of fish following an environmental ‘disaster’ over the weekend.
Several miles of the Nidd between Gouthwaite reservoir and Hampsthwaite have been affected.
It is believed safety work by Yorkshire Water at Gouthwaite reservoir, which is just north of Pateley Bridge, may have stirred up silt deposits.
A Yorkshire Water spokeswoman said:
“We’re working with the Environment Agency to investigate what’s caused the sediment in the River Nidd to be disturbed.
“We’ve temporarily suspended some work our capital partners Mott Macdonald Bentley were doing upstream at Gouthwaite reservoir while we investigate.”
The work at Gouthwaite dam
John Shillcock, an ecologist who is president of Nidderdale Angling Club, described the incident as an “environmental disaster”, the scale of which remained unclear. He added:
“It is impossible to know at this stage what the effect has been on the fish and invertebrates.
“There is no sign of rising or dead fish and it is not safe to wade to take invertebrate samples. There is no visibility to know where you are putting your feet.”
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He said Yorkshire Water was excavating a trench as part of a long-term project to install a siphon at Gouthwaite dam to enable it to rapidly reduce water levels in an emergency.
He added it appeared this had churned up 120 years of accumulated silt, which had flowed from the reservoir into the river via the discharge control valves.
Mr Shillcock said the angling club had asked to be kept informed about the works and it wanted to know whether an environmental assessment had been conducted to assess risks ahead of works of this magnitude.
He said the Nidd from the dam downstream was a lovely upland trout and grayling water.
The water, he added had been “crystal clear” and of such quality there had been no need to stock fish for the last three years.
These pictures taken yesterday show the colour of the water.
Second investigation into clear-up of Sharow oil spillThe Environment Agency is now carrying out two separate investigations following an oil spill in Sharow, near Ripon.
Last week, the agency announced that it would investigate the way in which soil and debris contaminated with heating oil was dumped on Back Lane.
Now, the clean-up operation is also being investigated, a week after 100 cubic metres of material was removed from the ancient thoroughfare.
James Thornborough, an international expert on oil spillages on land and water who lives in Sharow, told the Stray Ferret:
“Just about anything that could go wrong, did go wrong.”
He pointed out:
“People may look on this as an isolated incident in a small North Yorkshire village, but the ramifications are potentially enormous.”
Oil traces in standing water on Back Lane, Sharow (Photo: James Thornborough)
Mr Thornborough has advised some of the world’s largest oil companies on spills and incident management.
He, and environmental expert Simon Warwick who also lives in the village, witnessed and took photographs of contractors carrying out last Friday’s clean-up.
Mr Warwick, director of the Lower Ure Conservation Trust, who was awarded an MBE for his outstanding work in nature conservation, said a branch from an ancient oak was damaged in the process. He added:
“We will discover over time what longer-term damage may have been caused to natural habitats by the oil that seeped into the lane and the hedgerow.”
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The contaminated soil and debris was originally dumped in Back Lane after being cleared from an adjacent property, where domestic heating oil had leaked from a large plastic tank.
Mr Thornborough said:
“It was not the fault of the property owners, who did all of the right things as soon as the leak was discovered.
“They were subsequently the victims of a botched clear-up.”
The Environment Agency previously told the Stray Ferret it was investigating the dumping of the contaminated soil to see whether any offences had been committed. It said it was seeking assurances from the company responsible that the situation would be put right as quickly as possible.
However, after further damage was done while the material was removed from Back Lane, Mr Thornborough said he had brought the situation to the attention of the Environment Agency’s chief executive, Sir James Bevan, adding:
“I believe that there are lessons to be learned all around – particularly the need for people with outside oil tanks for domestic heating to have them checked on a regular basis.
“If you consider the potential for a spillage like this to occur many times across the Harrogate district, the incident and the way it was handled takes on a different perspective.”
Oliver Harmar, EA area director for Yorkshire, responded to Mr Thornborough and said:
“I have asked Martin Christmas (area environment manager) to lead on this investigation and you will hear from him shortly.
“Be assured that we are taking this seriously.”
Flood warning in Boroughbridge area after relentless heavy rainThe Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for a caravan park in Boroughbridge this evening. The agency says it is watching levels of the River Ure carefully and warned the Roecliffe Caravan Park area is most at risk.
On its website the agency said drivers should avoid low lying roads close to river:
The flood warning for the River Ure at Roecliffe Caravan Park has been issued. River levels are rising as a result of recent heavy rainfall. Consequently, flooding of property, roads, and farmland is expected imminently, on Saturday 6/2/21. Areas most at risk are Roecliffe Caravan Park. The current river level at Boroughbridge is 13.59m and rising, and the level at Westwick Weir is 1.53m and rising. Further rain and snow is forecast over the next few days which will keep river levels high. We are closely monitoring the situation. Please put your flood plan into action, and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers,
The flood warnings come after relentless rain. A Met Office yellow weather warning for snow and ice continues to be in place for the Harrogate district tonight and tomorrow.
Temperatures are set to fall over the next 24 hours with heavy snow in parts of the UK as the country experiences some of the coldest weather since the “Beast from the East” in 2018. The weather front which has been name Storm Darcy has been dubbed “The Beast from the East 2”.
It may be that the district avoids the worst of the beast which is forecast to be more severe in the south and east of England.
Temperatures though are not expected to rise above zero degrees celsius in the district for much of tomorrow with snow showers expected.
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Continuing snow showers over the next 48 hours and freezing temperatures may mean traffic disruption on Monday morning.
For full information on school closures and traffic disruption make sure you follow the Stray Ferret – we’ll have regular updates from early Monday morning if the storm affects us.
Investigation into contaminated soil dumping in SharowThe Environment Agency (EA) is investigating contractors who dumped contaminated material on an ancient lane in Sharow near Ripon.
Approximately 100 cubic metres of soil and debris soaked with domestic heating oil, remains in Back Lane at its junction with New Road.
David and Lynda Lees, who are in their seventies, were the victims of botched clearance work after a 25-year-old plastic storage tank developed a leak that saturated their back garden.
David Lees
Mr Lees, who worked for many years in the construction industry before his retirement, told the Stray Ferret:
“The contractors were appointed by our insurance company, after we put in a claim.
“Following the work in our back garden I realised what had been done with the soil and other material that had been cleared.
“I did everything I could to get the mess sorted out, making phone calls and sending numerous emails, but felt I was getting nowhere.”
Mr and Mrs Lees have received powerful support from fellow villagers, including James Thornborough, an international expert in oil spills on land and water and Simon Warwick, director of the Lower Ure Conservation Trust, who has advised some of the world’s leading oil companies.
Between them, the two men with their specialist knowledge, contacted all relevant bodies, from the EA to Sharow Parish Council and their intervention brought action.
Mr Thornborough said:
“Because of its pervasive nature, all oil spillages need to be taken seriously and handled carefully, particularly in a situation like this, when a large quantity of heating oil has seeped over time into soil.
“The subsequent dumping of this contaminated material on a public thoroughfare that has been in use since medieval times, is unforgiveable.”
“Back Lane is open to the public who, by simply walking along it, can unwittingly spread the contamination to other parts of the village, their own homes and anywhere else they go.”
Mr Warwick, who received an MBE for his outstanding work as a conservationist, added:
“The consequences of this dumping and piling up against a heritage hedgerow are serious for birds, mammals and other land-based creatures, as well as aquatic animals.
“I have seen that oil has been washed into water courses via the rainwater drains and this will ultimately affect aquatic animals and the food chain.”
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A spokesman for the Environment Agency said it had responded swiftly:
“The soils should not have been left in the lane and we are investigating to determine if any environmental offences have been committed.
“We are also seeking assurances from the company responsible that the soils will be removed as soon as possible and any subsequent remediation work that may be required is carried out quickly.”