§ 9. Mr. Owenasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has yet received correspondence from the Urban District Council of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, concerning oil pollution of the beach and promenade, arising from a 180 wrecked ship lying off Blyth; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayYes, Sir; I am advised that when the vessel was wrecked on 11th March a great deal of oil escaped into the sea, mainly because of the fracture of the port fuel tank. Because of the weather and a coating of oil on the wreck it was not possible to enter the engine room until 22nd April. Some oil was then removed from the starboard tank, but heavy seas prevented further work and fractured that tank, allowing the remaining oil to escape.
It is most regrettable that the beach and promenade at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea should have been polluted in this way, but I am sure that the Blyth Harbour Commission, which is responsible for moving the wreck and which itself has suffered much inconvenience from this oil, did all it reasonably could to contain the nuisance.