Investigation continuing into oil pollution incident off the A6 in Market Harborough
The Environment Agency is continuing to investigate an oil pollution incident which happened off the A6 in Market Harborough last month.
Residents in the east of the town contacted the Harborough Mail over the weekend of March 21 and 22, reporting strong smells.
The Environment Agency visited the site, a drainage ditch adjacent to the A6, and said they were not aware any wildlife had been impacted.
Residents were urged to avoid the area while a clean-up operation took place, with a footpath near to the site closed off during this time.
More than 180 tonnes of liquid waste were removed, with investigators removing more polluted material during a follow-up visit on April 1, more than a week after the incident was first reported.
An Environment Agency spokesperson told the Harborough Mail: “Our contractors were onsite immediately, working quickly and decisively from Saturday 21 until Friday 27 March.
“They revisited the site on Wednesday 1 April to check for any residual oil and removed more polluted material.
“183 tonnes of liquid waste and 16 tonnes of contaminated solids has been removed from the site.
“The investigation is ongoing and we urge anyone with information about the incident to contact our 24/7 incident reporting hotline on 0800 807060 or to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”
“Please report any environmental pollution that you identify to the Environment Agency’s Incident Hotline on 0800 807060.”
The most likely cause of the oil pollution is criminals dumping engine oil in a lay-by drain on the A6, which then went straight into a nearby storm drain.