BOATERS are finally using the closed section of the Walsall Canal, 11 months after it was poisoned with deadly chemicals – but there is still no indication of any prosecutions.
Remedial work has cost more than £500,000, involving dredging to remove some of the 4000 litres of zinc cyanide solution which leaked from Anochrome Ltd, north of Ocker Hill, into the Wyrley and Essington Canal.
Henriette Breukelaar, director for the West Midlands at the Canal & River Trust, 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.”
The Environment Agency said it is not unusual for investigations to take months to conclude, adding that it would not be able to comment on the case for several months. A spokesman said: “We will not hesitate to take decisive action against those responsible for pollution incidents. The investigation into the spillage that affected the Walsall Canal in August 2024 is a significant investigation which involves multiple agencies. While the canal has now reopened, we are continuing to gather statements and evidence. This includes monitoring the impact of boat traffic to assess the harm caused by the spillage.”
Ms Breukelaar added: “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 hundreds of thousands of pounds 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.”
In August 2024, a chemical spillage caused up to 4000 litres of highly toxic zinc cyanide solution to enter the canal at Pleck. To contain the pollution, a 12-mile stretch was initially closed to the public and boaters.
Teams from the Canal & River Trust, the Environment Agency, Walsall and Sandwell councils, the UK Health and Safety Agency, the emergency services, Severn Trent Water and contractors on behalf of the polluter worked to limit the spread of the spill and protect the canal’s ecosystem. The closure was quickly reduced to a one-mile-long 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.
Coun Adrian Andrew, associate leader at Walsall Council, said: “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.”
The Environment Agency can prosecute without referring to the Crown Prosecution Service. Earlier, the agency said no decision on enforcement would be made until the clean-up was complete.
