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Concern as fish die in beauty spot brook
Dead fish in brook at Cuckoos hollow at Werrington. Picture: David Lowndes/Peterborough ET
SCORES of fish have been found dead in a brook running through a Peterborough beauty spot.
Walkers have been left horrified at the sight of the fish lying on top of the waters in Werrington Brook, in Cuckoo’s Hollow, Peterborough.
Environment Agency officials have been alerted but say it could be some days before the results of tests to find out the cause of the death are known.
It is feared by some residents that a factory fire nearby last month may have polluted the brook, causing the fish to die.
Ward councillor John Fox had alerted the Environment Agency in the aftermath of a major blaze in a nearby cosmetics factory warehouse off Lincoln Road, in Werrington on Tuesday, December 14.
He said: “We could be looking at another environmental disaster similar to when oil from a garage in Lincoln Road leaked into the water and killed all the fish a few years ago.
“After the fire at the Potter and Moore Innovations warehouse and all the water we used we noticed the water at Cuckoo’s Hollow had turned a milky colour but we don’t know yet whether that was to blame.”
The haven is only just recovering from a the death of scores of fish in July 2010 which were revealed to be the victims of a heatwave after being spotted floating on the surface by residents.
An Environment Agency spokeswoman said that more would be known about the cause of death of the fishes once the tests have been completed and the ice had thawed.
She added that fish in shallow water which ices over can die due to oxygen levels dropping significantly.
Werrington Neighbourhood Council chairman and Friends of Cuckoo’s Hollow member David Hedges said the news was “a disaster”.
He said: “We will be talking to Peterborough City Council to look to see if Cuckoo’s Hollow has been polluted but it is also incredibly sad.
“We think it might be a result of the chemicals from the fire a few weeks ago which would be a shame and another environmental blow.”
Dog walker Adrian Clarke, from Rudyard Grove, Werrington, alerted the ET after he spotted fish lying dead as the thaw took hold.
He said: “Its a disaster really you can see all the fish are dead from the little ones to a two and half foot pike.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 14 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
John Fox
Friday, January 7, 2011 at 10:51 PMHIssing Cyd, the Willow tree was burnt down years ago, so if you are saying that I said I would get in touch with you and I have not, then all I can do is apologise for this, it would not have been deliberate I can assure you, so if is not because of my lack of interest it is because I must have forgot. The simple question I have to ask you is, why did you not get back in touch with me if you are so willing to help. I would encourage you to do so and I would be more than willing to put you in touch with a group called Friends of Cuckoo Hollow who would love to meet with you and share your ideas on how to improve this area. Again I can only apologise to you as it is unlike me not to get back to people but I do say to everyone that I call on that if they have not heard from PCC or myself within a set time to get back in touch with me to let me know. The reason being is that I do deal with many incidents and sometimes my memory fails me, not my manners. All the best and please make contact on 07540 358396, John Fox. Werrington North Independent Councillor.
The Admiral
Friday, January 7, 2011 at 04:37 PMJohn Fox @ 9 - I am more than aware of the hollow and the chequered history it has. Being downstream from the soak away from the P&M site should have been taken into account by the emergency services when pumping half an ocean into the open environment. Perhaps it would have been best if the place had been allowed to burn to the ground, which would only leave a mess on the building footprint. As previously posted the city (and Werrington in particular) should obtain financial recompense from P&M's insurers to rectify the situation. Additionally, as the local enforcing authority PCC should ensure that proper bunding and emergency measures are installed as they should have been - if PCC had been doing the job they are employed to do. Such environmental disasters seem a mere niggle until it happens on your doorstep.
25
Friday, January 7, 2011 at 03:26 PMthe fishing is shocking on this water anyway and to expensive
25
Friday, January 7, 2011 at 03:26 PMthe fishing is shocking on this water anyway and to expensive
hissing cyd
Friday, January 7, 2011 at 09:31 AMJohn Fox asked me to help in restoring Cuckoo's Hollow I visited and the first thing I saw was a group of people watching the fire brigade putting out a fire in a willow tree. John Fox was supposed to keep in touch when I told him what I thought should be done but he never did.
John Fox
Friday, January 7, 2011 at 09:24 AMHolly & Admiral, It sounds that you may have been round the lake Admiral and if Holly has not, then maybe we could both show her around the area, as I believe that this is a jewel in the Crown of Werrington. A lot of the local residents love this spot for the tranquility they get when walking around the lake. Please join us on a walkabout we would be only too pleased to show you what could be achieved if we could find the money to upgrade this environmental haven to enhance its beauty. Happy New Year, John Fox.
Holly Golightly
Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 05:27 PMPerhaps the fish got too cold, or the ice stopped them from getting air?
Holly Golightly
Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 05:27 PMPerhaps the fish got too cold, or the ice stopped them from getting air?
alexc
Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 05:00 PMThis is not the only place fish are dying. Fish and birds are dying around the Globe! Check out this google map.http:maps.google.commapsms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=201817256339889828327.0004991bca25af104a22b&ll=28.921631,5.273438&spn=141.542315,12.304687&z=2&iwloc=0004991c2e41cf55affcb
The Admiral
Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 12:08 PMThis is a crying shame. In physical location terms the two areas are not next to each other but the water course(s) that feed the brook run right the way from Potter and Moore round in a loop to the hollow. As an environmental disaster this may only seem small but it is still a disaster, where man's actions have impacted on the other creatures in the jointly shared environment. So who is going to pay for the clean up - Potter & Moore's insurance company I would imagine, with an insistance their products be better stored to ensure they do not leak out into the environment under any circumstances
Mad Murphy
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 06:10 PMCuckoos Hollow is a beautiful area, and very highly valued in the Murphy Household. But why oh why do morons insist on throwing rubbish into the lake? Of course its polluted. The bottom of the lake must be Werrington's answer to the Householders Tip. What a shame that the only people who heed warnings about looking after the environment for our children and grandchildren are the ones who are doing it already.
TripSwitch
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 10:45 AMI've been walking around the lakes over the new year and the water is full of debris and very discoloured water with a film of oil floating on it in some parts. This is such a shame as it's a lovely place to walk during the day and the volunteers who clean up once a month do a fantastic job for everyone else to enjoy it. I wonder if the fish have been removed by the environment agency as I haven't noticed any floating or maybe they are just confined to that one area? I certainly hope that it is something that can be sorted out or has passed throught the water course already as it is great sight for little kids to stand on the bridge at cuckoos hollow and look down at all the fish swimming beneath them.
TripSwitch
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 10:45 AMI've been walking around the lakes over the new year and the water is full of debris and very discoloured water with a film of oil floating on it in some parts. This is such a shame as it's a lovely place to walk during the day and the volunteers who clean up once a month do a fantastic job for everyone else to enjoy it. I wonder if the fish have been removed by the environment agency as I haven't noticed any floating or maybe they are just confined to that one area? I certainly hope that it is something that can be sorted out or has passed throught the water course already as it is great sight for little kids to stand on the bridge at cuckoos hollow and look down at all the fish swimming beneath them.
Holly Golightly
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 10:05 AMComment removed by moderator
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