Cooking oil used in takeaways spilled into canal
By Tom EdwardsTransport and environment correspondent, London
BBCLondon’s canals are normally a peaceful haven in the center of the capital, but today some of the longest sections are covered in thick, greasy yellow scum.
Experts believe that much of the Grand Union Canal was deliberately polluted by cooking oil spills.
It has been declared a Category 3 incident by the Environment Agency, meaning the clean-up operation is the responsibility of the Canal and Rivers Trust charity.
Costs are estimated to be up to £10,000 per day.
The canal is the longest in the United Kingdom, connecting London to Birmingham, passing through rolling countryside, industrial towns and peaceful villages.
Ros Daniels, London and South East region director at the Canal and River Trust, explained: “In cases of serious incidents, the Environment Agency can intervene – we have worked with them to help identify the pollutant.
“But with fewer incidents we have to foot the bill and, as a charity, that runs into tens of thousands of pounds.”
Contractors currently use booms to collect oil and then release it.
The oil pollution incident stretches for miles along the Grand Union Canal in west London, but the charity warns it could spread.
The oil is believed to have come from a ‘dark kitchen’ – used primarily for cooking takeaway food for delivery – and was deliberately thrown into the canal.
Alex Patterson, of the Canal and River Trust, added: “We are pretty clear that this is discarded cooking oil and we believe the source is six miles away in Alperton.
‘Very serious’
“Not only are we cleaning up the Paddington and Little Venice areas, but we are also blowing up what we believe to be the source.”
Mr Patterson says the oil spill is “very serious” from the charity’s perspective – adding that it is very difficult to estimate how much oil is in the water.
“They congregate in different places, around boats and in Paddington Basin,” he added. “But there are definitely thousands of liters of cooking oil in the water.”
Ms Daniels described the incident as “really distressing”, adding that it was up to the charity to “bear the brunt” of the clean-up efforts.
She added: “It’s a wonderful resource in the heart of London and for someone to dump their cooking oil there is really distressing for the wildlife and for everyone who enjoys it as a place for relaxation and enjoyment, as well as for those who live there. far away.”
“We are reassured that the damage will not be long-term, but it is not interesting.”
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