Croydon oil spill: Labour MP vows to hold people 'accountable' after diesel spill causes 'ecological disaster'

Oil spilling into the River Wandle - (Wandle Valley Forum)

Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh has demanded accountability after 4,000 litres of diesel spilled into the River Wandle, prompting an environmental disaster.

The MP for Mitcham and Morden confirmed on social media that she had been in contact with the Environment Agency and was working to get to the bottom of what happened.

It’s understood the diesel spilled from a storage container at a nearby Arriva bus garage and flowed into the river, having a catastrophic impact on local wildlife and water quality.

According to reports, birds were seen covered in oil and struggling to clean themselves in contaminated water.

Although the Environmental Agency is on site, the long-term fallout of this environmental disaster is yet to be fully determined.

Addressing the environmental chaos, McDonagh said: “I am deeply concerned by reports of wildlife being coated in oil as a result of the leak, particularly in Watermeads Nature Reserve.”

She explained that a multi-agency response team had been arranged at the scene to soak up the diesel and clean up the leak as soon as possible.

Wildlife at the River Wandle was impacted by oil (Liberal Democrats)

In her statement, McDonagh also revealed that a number of absorbent materials had been put into the river in an attempt to soak up the diesel.

McDonagh also vowed that once the disaster had been cleared up, she would hold those who responsible accountable for their actions.

“We need to get to the bottom of who is responsible for this spill and hold them accountable, but right now the focus must be on limiting the environmental damage,” she said.

“After work on containing the spill is completed, the Environment Agency will send ecologists to the river to assess the impact to wildlife from the spill. There will then be a review to find out who is responsible.”

The MP also urged local residents to stay away from the water and stop their pets from entering the river too.

It’s not the first time that the River Wandle has been subjected to harmful pollution, with industrial waste commonly being released around the area.

In November, the Environmental Agency started a campaign to inform local businesses about how to manage pollution around the river.

Local reports from last year claim that Thames Water wanted to continue dumping sewage into the River Wandle until 2035.