THE Environment Agency has spent around a week trying to remove oil that was ‘maliciously’ spilled into a stream at Darkhill Ironworks near Coleford.

Police say vandals drilled a hole in numerous plastic containers filled with water contaminated with oil, which were stored nearby, and allowed the contents to flow into ground water.

It’s not known how much filtered into the stream or what the cost of the damage and environmental clean-up is. A spokesperson for the agency said measures had been taken to minimise impact.

Coleford-based soft drinks manufacturer, Lucozade Ribena Suntory was on high alert as it uses the water source. However, following a thorough investigation to test for contamination, it was found the oily residue was not a ‘significant’ threat.

The firm’s spokesperson said: “The sampling of the water showed no contamination or risk to the aquifer, the source or to our drinks.” 

It’s understood the incident happened between Friday, November 25 at 12pm and Monday, November 28.

Local dog walker Ted Taylor contacted the Review to express his concerns and said just last Thursday oil was still coming down in a slick and, in places, forming a sludgy mess.

He said: “One of our chats with one of the other dog walkers highlighted the risk to other wildlife – the stream drains into a pond that may contain fish and wild birds.

“My wife and I were first aware of the issue when we were walking the dogs and noticed a strong smell of fuel oil or something, but assumed it was a problem from some homes nearby. We didn’t take our five border collier dogs that route for a few days, when we returned a couple of men from the Environment Agency were doing work in the stream and told us what had happened.

“The guys from the Environment Agency were doing a grand job in difficult conditions to try to deal with it but it still smells alongside this stream and the fuel oil is still clearly visible on top of the water.

“We have to be careful how we walk our dogs and keep them out of the stream. It is quite disgraceful that a tank should have been damaged like this by some yobs polluting a lovely part of the Forest.”

The famous site, and the neighbouring Titanic Steelworks, are internationally important industrial remains associated with the development of the iron and steel industries.

Lee Williams from the Environment Agency said: “We were able to trace the source of the pollution, stop it and provide advice to those involved. To minimise the impact of the pollution our officers put out oil absorbent pads and booms which collect the oil. Thankfully there was no indication that the pollution had impacted fish and other wildlife in the watercourse. “

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police added: “We believe the act to have been a malicious act of criminal damage. Anyone with information should call 101 and quote incident 146 of November 29.”