Clean-up operation following oil spillage at Smethwick pool
A clean-up operation is underway in Sandwell after oil and petrol spilled into a pool used by wildlife.
A multi-agency team is trying to contain the spillage and protect birds at Smethwick Hall Park, in Smethwick.
Sandwell Council said it became aware of the incident on Thursday afternoon.
Residents living nearby have complained of a strong odour of diesel and oil.
A spokesman for Severn Trent Water said: "Our teams have been on site to investigate what’s happened as there has been a spill of some sort of oil or petrol.
"We’ve done a thorough investigation of our network to see if we could find where it came from, but we’ve found no trace at all in our pipes and so we’re confident it didn’t get into the pool from the sewer system.
"We’ve worked hard to try and contain the oil as best we can."
Councillor Joanne Hadley, cabinet member for safer communities at Sandwell Council, said: "Officers have been on site and we’ve been working with the Environment Agency, the RSPCA and local volunteers to help any wildlife there.
"We’re working with Severn Trent to identify the cause of the pollution and clean up the spillage as soon as possible.
"In the meantime spillage containment booms have been installed to prevent the contamination from spreading further."
The pool was closed last year after dozens of geese died. Friends of the park claimed the deaths were linked to raw sewage entering the site.
