Warning to avoid River Wandle after diesel spill

Merton Council has warned the public to avoid the River Wandle after a major diesel spill polluted the "at-risk" south-west London chalk stream.

The spill had spread from Wallington to Wandsworth, causing significant damage to local wildlife and water quality, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported.

About 4,000 litres of diesel reportedly leaked from a bus depot storage tank in Thornton Heath, Croydon. The spillage entered the river and surface water drains and spread throughout the river.

Residents reported seeing birds coated in oil, struggling to clean themselves and survive in the contaminated water.

The LDRS said despite the efforts of emergency teams from the Environment Agency, there were growing concerns about the long-term damage to the river's ecosystem.

Merton Council confirmed the spill had severely impacted the Watermeads Nature Reserve in Mitcham, with numerous local wildlife species already affected by the oil.

Stuart Neaverson, Labour councillor for the Colliers Wood ward, near the Wandle, said online the London Fire Brigade (LFB) had been working to contain the spill, with fire trucks and officers "trying their best to stop the flow and take the pollutants out of the river".

Thames Water is also involved in the clean-up efforts and the public is advised to stay clear of the contaminated water.

Merton Council also urged residents to avoid allowing pets into the water and to refrain from feeding wildlife, as doing so could result in animals ingesting the harmful pollutants.

According to the LDRS, the Environment Agency said it had launched a full investigation into the cause of the spill and Merton Council said it would provide updates as more information becomes available.

Concerns remain high over the lasting effects on the river, which has been a focus of environmental efforts for many years.

Bobby Dean, the Lib Dem MP for Carshalton and Wallington, who has previously campaigned to improve the protection of the Wandle, said he was pushing the Environment Agency for answers, an immediate clean-up plan and safeguards to ensure "something like this never occurs again".

"This should never have happened," he added.

The River Wandle begins in the North Downs and flows nine miles (14km) through Sutton, Croydon, and Wandsworth before reaching the Thames.

One of London's few chalk streams, it is home to brown trout, chub, barbel and roach, making it a popular spot for anglers.

However, a report by the LDRS last year found that Thames Water may not take action to protect the river from sewage until 2035.

Thames Water is conducting an ecological assessment to determine priorities, with potential works on the Wandle possibly brought forward to 2027.

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