Canal pollution leads to free fishing offer

Angling clubs affected by the mass pollution of two canals in Wolverhampton that killed thousands of fish have been told they don't have to pay rent until investigations into why it happened are completed.

Anglers have been given a "rent holiday" for around two years until all investigations are complete into the pollution which killed 50,000 fish and legal action is considered. A 30-mile stretch of the Shropshire Union and Staffordshire & Worcestershire canals was polluted in April.

A toxic substance, thought to be ammonia, leaked from Severn Trent's Barnhurst sewage plant on the Pendeford-Oxley border.

A report by a fishery consultant commissioned by Severn Trent and British Waterways has now been completed and the Environment Agency said it was still considering whether to take any legal action as a result.

However, in the meantime it has emerged British Waterways has told anglers they don't have to pay rent.

British Waterways spokesman Stephen Hardy said: "Following the pollution incident on the canals at Autherley Junction in April this year, which resulted from an unauthorised discharge into sewers affecting Barnhurst Sewage Treatment Works, the draft findings of a fishery consultant are being considered by Severn Trent Water Limited and British Waterways.

"Neither organisation can discuss this incident as it may be the subject of legal action. However British Waterways has granted affected angling clubs a rent holiday while such action is concluded."

The contamination began on April 18 and dead fish such as pike and bream were spotted floating in the water as far north as Wheaton Aston in South Staffordshire and as far south as Dunstall Park.

One of the worst-hit areas was Autherley Junction at Oxley. As a result, a number of angling matches had to be moved or cancelled.

Officials had to release more water into the canal to dilute the pollutants.