Brooklands Park: 'Major environmental incident' avoided after diesel spills into Worthing lake

Environmental officers have been praised for their quick response in preventing a 'major environmental incident' after a diesel spill near Brooklands Lake.
Some wildlife was unable to escape the dieselSome wildlife was unable to escape the diesel
Some wildlife was unable to escape the diesel

Teams from the Environment Agency worked in Brooklands Park yesterday (May 29) after fuel spilled from a tanker in nearby Lancing Business Park into the lake.

Surface water drains carried diesel into the water, according to an Environment Agency spokesman, which was contained in a small section of the lake.

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Specialist teams scraped and mopped the diesel off the surface to reduce the risk to wildlife.

Some wildlife was unable to escape the dieselSome wildlife was unable to escape the diesel
Some wildlife was unable to escape the diesel

Images from the scene shows some fish were unable to escape the flow, floating lifelessly on the surface.

Representatives from the Environment Agency, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and Adur and Worthing councils have returned to the site today (May 30) and fire crews plan to clean the sewers to ensure any residue is removed.

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The incident is still under investigation by the Environment Agency.

Workers remove the diesel in Brooklands LakeWorkers remove the diesel in Brooklands Lake
Workers remove the diesel in Brooklands Lake
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Edward Crouch, Worthing Borough Council's cabinet member for digital and environmental services, praised the authorities for their quick response.

"Thanks to their diligent response a potentially major environmental incident at this much-loved local landmark was prevented," he said.

“Teams from our parks team are on site today to assess the impact on local wildlife living in and near the lake.

Workers remove the diesel in Brooklands LakeWorkers remove the diesel in Brooklands Lake
Workers remove the diesel in Brooklands Lake
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“We will also continue to work with our partner authorities to establish how this happened and support efforts to establish if there are any measures which could be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. Any response will need to balance protecting the unique wildlife habitat of Brooklands with the fact the lake exists to collect rainwater to prevent the local area from flooding.

“I also want to thank the wider public for their patience and assure them that we are continuing to push forward our ambitious plans to transform the park into an exciting destination which local residents can be proud of.”