Lucy Wood reports…
The Canal & River Trust has celebrated the reopening of the Walsall Canal to boats after a serious pollution incident forced its closure last year.
MONTHS of dedicated effort by teams from the Canal & River Trust, Environment Agency, Walsall and Sandwell Councils, UK Health and Safety Agency, emergency services, Severn Trent Water and contractors on behalf of the polluter worked to limit the damage and protect the canal’s ecosystem.
The chemical spillage in August caused up to 4000 litres of highly toxic zinc cyanide solution to enter the canal at Pleck, Walsall, affecting local wildlife. To contain the pollution, a 12-mile stretch of the canal was initially closed to the public and boaters.
The canal closure was quickly reduced to a one-mile stretch from Pleck to Walsall Top Lock at Birchills and the towpath was reopened several weeks later when chemical levels were at a consistently safe level.
The canal has been dredged to remove cyanide-contaminated silt, further reducing risks to wildlife and aiding ecological recovery. About 526 tonnes of silt have been removed and safely disposed of.
Henriette Breukelaar, director for the West Midlands at the CRT, said: “After many months of closure, I am delighted to reopen the Walsall Canal to our boating community. It has taken significant time and resources to remove the toxins, and I thank boaters for their patience during the clean-up.
“This incident has had a lasting impact on the canal’s ecology, but our team acted swiftly to contain the pollution and prevent further damage to wildlife. The clean-up has so far cost our charity £100,000 – funds that would have been used to repair our canals. We will seek to reclaim this money from the polluting company and invest it in caring for the canals in the West Midlands.
“We will continue to closely monitor the canal to ensure no further harm comes to wildlife. The extraordinary scale and nature of this pollution incident means we can’t be certain how long it will take for fish and other wildlife to fully recover. We will therefore continue to closely monitor the canal to make sure we remain on track to see this beautiful and much-loved stretch of canal make a full recovery for boaters and local communities to fully enjoy.”
Coun Adrian Andrew, associate leader at Walsall Council, added: “Much work has gone into getting us to the position to reopen the canal. Amid a devastating chemical spill, the partners who have been involved throughout stepped up to keep the public safe and to minimise the long-term impacts.
“Despite the situation, this reopening is something to be celebrated. I know our canals are important to many people, and it is a great relief they can now be enjoyed once more.”
