Contamination of the river Am
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A local artist's impression of the Am
The New Year’s Day swim has become something of a tradition in Ambridge, with local residents taking a dip in the icy water of the Am to prove their mettle. It’s a tradition that might have to stop now though after a devastating discovery was made yesterday.
Kirsty Miller of Willow farm, a keen wild swimmer and conservationist, went for a dip on Sunday, 14th January, and was shocked to find the river ‘full of dead fish’. Her friend Roy Tucker, also of Willow Farm, was with her when he spotted the dead fish and called for her to get out. Miller immediately phoned the Environment Agency Hotline who have since sent an emergency crew out to the site.
This is nothing short of an environmental disaster for the area. As to what caused the death of so many fish and what the full impact on wildlife will be it is too early to know, but the Environment Agency have told us that they are taking this very seriously indeed. Nor is this the first time they have sent investigators to the River Am, many of the Ambridge residents may be reminded of the catastrophic slurry leak in 1989.
April 1989 and the Am was centre of yet another environmental disaster when a slurry leak resulted in thousands of dead fish and loss of habitat for countless other river dwellers. The pollution originated at Brookfield Farm resulting in 1000 Brown trout and 1000 Rainbow trout being replaced into the Am. Phil Archer who was responsible for the farm at the time received an official notice that he caused the contamination of the Am but was never prosecuted.
Mrs Mitchell, Borchester resident, told our reporters that she found a dead otter in the Am on 14th December 2017.
We will be following this story closely. Any information please let us know by tweeting us
