This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-18337587#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
'Farm silage' caused fish deaths at Madeley pool | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Agricultural silage polluted a village pool in Staffordshire killing an estimated 100 to 200 fish, the Environment Agency (EA) has said. | |
The fish were found dead in Madeley, near Newcastle-under-Lyme, on Tuesday morning sparking a large rescue operation of surviving fish. | |
Tom Thornett, from the agency, said silage must have got in from a stream. | |
An investigation would look at whether anyone was "culpable" or there was reckless behaviour, he added. | |
Mr Thornett said it could also have been an accident. | |
Dozens of volunteers worked with firefighters and anglers to try to save hundreds of other fish in the pool, which were then taken to local fisheries. | |
'Absolutely catastrophic' | 'Absolutely catastrophic' |
Mr Thornett said: "Due to the sterling efforts of local anglers and the assistance of the fire brigade there were quite a lot of fish rescued and some oxygen has been pumped back into the pond to help build the levels up." | |
He said silage stripped oxygen from the water, causing fish to suffocate. | |
Further tests would be carried out at the pool, including checking oxygen levels, before the fish were returned. | |
Parish councillor Gary White said residents were "out in force" putting fish into buckets and paddling pools to try to save them. | |
Mr White said of the pool: "It's a major amenity for this village. | Mr White said of the pool: "It's a major amenity for this village. |
"There's a fishing club that operates from here, there's a Madeley pool society. | "There's a fishing club that operates from here, there's a Madeley pool society. |
"We're in a conservation area so it's absolutely catastrophic for us." | "We're in a conservation area so it's absolutely catastrophic for us." |
Previous version
1
Next version