Pollutants strike wildlife on the Essington & Wyrley Canal- Wednesfield.

The danger of the pollutants in the canal are not only to the fish stocks- but also with regard to the other bird and mammalian wildlife that finds and makes their homes in the surrounding habitat.

I am indebted to Councillor Gareth Ilman-Walker for sharing the information that Walsall Council has received with regard to this tragic incident. Gareth states that “The Environment Agency is currently managing this incident which is impacting sections of both the Birmingham Canal and Wyrley & Essington Canal. Birmingham Canal - Wednesfield Road (A4124) to Dunstall Park Race Course Wyrley and Essington Canal - Horsley Field Junction and Wednesfield. Oxygen levels have dropped rapidly in sections of both of these canals which has caused fish mortality (approx 4000). He informs me that it is believed that the pollution incident maybe linked to a fire incident in Bilston which
occurred last week, but the Environment Agency is continuing to investigate.



The questions that need answering is the ones that relate to the damage and long term harm that this spill will have on the quality of the water and the impact that will have on fish species and the water food chain. But also alongside that question has tobe the current danger to water birds and mammals that have their habitat alongside the canal. Is the pollutants long term poisonous and is it a threat to leisure walkers and pets? I am gutted that the campaign that I have been running for some time to make the Wednesfield part of the canal system a wild life reserve may have taken a backward step now that we are experiencing this event.