§ Mr. Moneyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement regarding the threat to wild life in the River Orwell from seepage of waste diesel oil dumped at Sproughton.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThe East Suffolk and Norfolk River Authority tells me that two incidents were reported to it on Friday, 10th March. The first involved about 10 gallons of waste oil, illegally dumped on a tip at Valley Farm, Sproughton belonging to Samford Rural District Council. A small amount had seeped into a pond about 3½ miles from River Orwell, but which is connected to the river by a brook. Emergency action was taken by the Samford Rural District Council. The river authority has received varying reports about the effect on wild life, but the only casualty so far discovered is one duck. In view of the emergency action taken by the council, there is no great pollution problem to the pond or the stream but the police are trying to trace the culprits. The second involved a report that oil had been found on the River Orwel opposite number 2 transit shed, Cliff Quay at Ipswich Dock. It was found to be coke dust blown from coke during delivery. This would have no harmful effect on wild life.