Yorkshire 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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Residents 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.”

Clean 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

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.”

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.

The 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.”   

The 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 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. 

The 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.”

Two fresh flood alerts have been issued for the River Nidd this evening.

It means there are now three flood alerts and one more serious flood warning in force for the Harrogate district, with further rainfall expected.

The Environment Agency issued an alert for the middle Nidd catchment at 6.47pm tonight, affecting land around the river and tributaries including Thornton Beck, Newton Beck, Oak Beck, Cow Dyke Beck, Bilton Beck, Frogmire Dike and Syke Dike.

Minutes later at 6.54pm another flood warning was issued for the lower Nidd catchment, affecting land around the river and its tributaries including Sand Beck, Sike Beck, Pool Beck and Great Gutter. The alerts said:

“Flooding of low-lying land and roads is possible today, Tuesday.

“The river has risen in response to recent rainfall, and with persistent and heavy rain forecast to continue through until Thursday we expect river levels to remain high and could rise further.

“Please avoid low-lying land and footpaths near local watercourses.”

A flood warning for the Nidd at Low Laithe between Dacre Banks and Glasshouses was issued this afternoon.

It remains active, as does a flood alert for for the upper Nidd around Wath and Lofthouse, just north of Pateley Bridge.

If flooding affects your area please let us know at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

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Residents in areas prone to flooding across the Harrogate district have been urged to be ready for rising waters this week.

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for residents around the lower River Nidd today, as snow further up the river melts rapidly.

Areas around Cattal, Tockwith and Kirk Hammerton could all be affected as water levels rise today.

The warning says roads and farmland could be flooded as the river reaches its peak, along with tributaries including Sand Beck, Sike Beck, Pool Beck and Great Gutter. The warning says river levels in the upper catchment have already peaked.

The Environment Agency said:

“Please be aware that further rain is forecast from Tuesday, January 19. We are closely monitoring the situation and our incident response staff are checking defences. Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses.”

Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued yellow and amber warnings of heavy rain across North Yorkshire. Coming into effect from the early hours of Tuesday morning and lasting until Thursday, they warn of fast-flowing, deep floodwater which could pose a danger to lives.

Homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to buildings, and some communities could be cut off. Power cuts, road closures and disruption to public transport are also likely, the Met Office said.