Oil pollution kills swans at Brooklands Lake

The Environment Agency is appealing for information after oil entered Brooklands Lake in Lancing. Three cygnets have died and two swans and a further cygnet have been removed from the lake.

The Environment Agency was called to the scene on 15 June 2006 by Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service (WADARS) who reported seeing oil at Brooklands Lake. Environment Officers quickly identified that oil was discharging from a surface water drain. The Environment Agency, assisted by WADARS, quickly used floating booms and oil absorbents to contain and then absorb the oil to limit any further damage to the lake.

Unfortunately three cygnets died later that evening as a result of the pollution. Brooklands is a popular boating lake that attracts a wide range of wildfowl and supports a large fish population. The Environment Agency is currently cleaning up the spill and officers have launched a full investigation into the pollution which they believe to have come from Lancing Industrial Estate

Environment Officer Andrew Barnes said: “It is important that people dispose of potentially polluting material, such as oil, in the correct manner. Drains are often wrongly seen as a convenient place to get rid of substances but the surface water drainage system is purely designed to take rainwater and in most cases they will lead to a watercourse.

“Unfortunately it looks as though the thoughtless actions of someone pouring oil into the surface water drain has caused the death of 3 cygnets. It is thanks to the quick response of those who attended the lake that a far more serious pollution was avoided. This incident could have caused  greater environmental damage and further loss of wildlife.”

Anyone who has information about the incident should call the Environment Agency's 24 hour incident hotline in confidence on 0800 807060.

WADARS Animal Rescue Officer Billy Elliot added: “We have removed both the parents and one remaining cygnet from the lake and taken them to the Swan Sanctuary at Walton-on-Thames for cleaning and treatment.  They are doing well and we hope to bring them back to Brooklands when the work to clean the lake is done”.

WADARS are a Worthing (UK) based charity dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife and the rescue and re-homing of domestic animals.  The organisation relies entirely on donations, legacies and fundraising to keep it running.

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