Environment Agency

Claire Compton                                                                   Our Ref: 26061 Bown Pond

By email at: clerk@fradleyparishcouncil.gov.uk                     Date: 28 March 2025

Dear Clerk,

The Environment Agency has taken its response to the Bown Pond oil spill incident seriously and we thank your residents for their patience whilst our investigation was ongoing. This has been completed, so we are now able to provide these details for you to share with your residents.

In early December 2024, an oil tank became damaged by storm Darragh which resulted in a spill of the oil. The owner of the tank reported this incident to us and contained what they could at the source. Unfortunately, the secondary containment system became overwhelmed, resulting in oil entering Bown Pond through the surface water drainage system. The owner of the tank cooperated with us, and they arranged for a specialist contractor to conduct the cleanup of the oil from the pond. Environment Agency officers attended the pond several times to conduct water quality testing, assess for impact on wildlife, and to monitor the cleanup.

Sadly, approximately 40 small fish and 5 Swans died in December. We have been in contact with the wildlife sanctuary who cared for the Swans to update them on the progress of the cleanup and the water quality of the pond to help inform their decisions on releasing the remaining swans in their care. The oil was contained in the pond, and did not affect the receiving brook. The nearby canal was also unaffected, which is not connected to the pond nor brook. The surface water drain leading to the pond has been cleaned and the cleanup on the pond from this incident is complete. Testing has shown that the water quality in the pond is good, and we do not expect there to be any long-term impacts from this oil spill.

The damaged oil tank has since been removed and will not be replaced, preventing a reoccurrence. The polluter has paid over £410,000 to remove the pollution and has paid the costs of the Environment Agency’s time responding to this incident.

It has been a welcome sight to see wildlife including many bird species and fish enjoying the pond since the cleanup.

Unfortunately, on 7 March 2025, Environment Agency officers discovered a separate pollution incident affecting Bown Pond. The pollution, believed to be paint, had entered the pond on the North-East side via the surface water drainage system, and was traced to a drain outside domestic properties, however the offender has not been identified. On the request of the EA, the owner of the surface water outfall, Severn Trent Water, is working to remove the pollution from the drains and pond. Testing has shown no impact on water quality and no impact on wildlife has been observed, however, officers will continue to monitor this as well as the cleanup until the pollution has been removed. The pollution had