Environmental fears over planned oil site

A planned distribution site for diesel and heating oil on the edge of a country park has been branded an "environmental disaster" waiting to happen.

Speedy Fuels has made an application to store and distribute fuel from a former MOT testing station on Old Bath Road in Charvil, Berkshire.

Critics said they feared leakages from the site could devastate local fishing lakes and the River Loddon, a tributary of the nearby River Thames.

But company director Matt Greensmith said there were "multiple fail safes" to stop oil entering local water courses.

Speedy Fuels began using the site late last year, but was told its operation was not covered by existing planning permission.

The firm was ordered to shut it down and then made a fresh application.

Andy Church, the fishery manger for Charvil Fishing Society, said he was worried fuel could end up entering the lake as a result of worsening floods.

"There's a huge risk of flooding into the site and the resultant environmental disaster that could happen," he said.

"If there was to be a spill or a leak it could be catastrophe for the lake, for the stock, for our fishing society and for the country park as a whole."

Parish councillor for Charvil, Lee Cripps, agreed, saying that during the winter, the lake levels were so high the site was "an island surrounded by water".

But Mr Greensmith said all container tanks were bunded and checked regularly.

"It can't go wrong," he said.

"I get it - people think an oil company is a dirty company... but I don't believe our neighbours will know we're there."

He said an expert assessment had found there was "no flood risk" to the site.

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