Merton Council has issued a caution to the community, advising them to steer clear of the River Wandle due to a significant diesel spill that has compromised the chalk stream in south-west London, which is identified as “at-risk.”
The diesel spill has extended from Wallington to Wandsworth, inflicting serious harm on the local wildlife and degrading the water’s quality, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Approximately 4,000 litres of diesel are believed to have leaked from a storage tank at a bus depot in Thornton Heath, Croydon. This spillage found its way into the river and surface water drains, worsening the contamination throughout the waterway.
Residents have witnessed birds covered in oil, struggling to clean themselves and survive in the tainted waters.
According to the LDRS, despite the intervention of emergency response teams from the Environment Agency, there are escalating fears regarding the long-term repercussions for the river’s ecosystem.
Merton Council has confirmed that the spill has had a severe effect on the Watermeads Nature Reserve in Mitcham, with many local wildlife species already suffering from the oil contamination.
Stuart Neaverson, the Labour councillor for Colliers Wood ward adjacent to the Wandle, stated online that the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has been actively engaged in containing the spill, with firefighters and equipment deployed in a bid to halt the contamination and extract pollutants from the river.
Thames Water is also participating in the cleanup efforts, and the public has been warned to avoid contact with the polluted waters.
Additionally, Merton Council has advised residents against letting pets access the water and against feeding the local wildlife, as this could lead to animals ingesting harmful contaminants.
The LDRS notes that the Environment Agency has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the origin of the spill, with Merton Council promising to provide updates as more details arise.
Concerns remain heightened about the long-term effects on the river, which has been the target of conservation initiatives for many years.
Bobby Dean, the Lib Dem MP for Carshalton and Wallington, who has advocated for the protection of the Wandle, expressed his intention to seek clarity from the Environment Agency regarding immediate cleanup actions and preventative measures to ensure that such incidents do not reoccur.
“This should never have transpired,” he remarked.
The River Wandle originates in the North Downs and flows for nine miles (14 km) through Sutton, Croydon, and Wandsworth before it meets the Thames.
As one of London’s few chalk streams, it hosts a variety of fish, including brown trout, chub, barbel, and roach, making it a favored location for anglers.
However, a report from the LDRS last year indicated that Thames Water might not take steps to safeguard the river from sewage issues until 2035.
Thames Water is currently conducting an ecological evaluation to set priorities, with potential improvements to the Wandle possibly advanced to 2027.
