River Bollin polluter located 'south of Macclesfield town centre'

By Alex Greensmith 1st Mar 2023

A storm culvert with the foamy pollutant on Byrons Lane. (Image - Mark Pinches)
A storm culvert with the foamy pollutant on Byrons Lane. (Image - Mark Pinches)

It has been implied that the culprit for an ecological disaster in Macclesfield is located in the south of the town.

Over the last 11 days, complaints of pollutants have been registered by residents over a mysterious white-yellowy foam that appeared on the River Bollin.

Easily noticeable from Riverside Park, Tytherington and Prestbury, now investigators are honing in on where the source of the contaminant is.

In a statement published to social media, the Environment Agency said: "We've traced the pollution back to an area south of Macclesfield town centre."

South of Macclesfield town centre. (Image - Google Maps)

"Officers have been knocking on doors of homes & businesses in this area to see if any of their operations have caused this pollution. If you have any info, call us on 0800 807060."

Thousands of fish are thought to be dead, with birds from mallards to kingfishers affected by the polluting of the food chain.

Unverified reports suggest the stretch of dead fish at the river bed stretches at least two miles, with the wider long-term effects on the ecosystem having the potential to last years.

Macclesfield MP David Rutley has not commented on the incident, but he has retweeted updates from the Environment Agency's investigation.

Macclesfield Tytherington Cheshire East and Macclesfield Town Councillor David Edwardes told Macclesfield Nub News.

"I first heard about this ecological disaster on the River Bollin at 9am on Thursday," he said.

"The report came from Beech Farm Drive saying there was a huge amount of white foam floating down the river.

"I spoke to The Environment Agency twice and United Utilities once on this traumatic day.

Dead fish still languish at the river bed, easily visible by eye. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"When I was a child growing up and playing around the Bollin (a long time ago!) the river was so polluted that you were lucky to see a stickleback. Now, we have lost hundreds and hundreds of fish. Trout, grayling, chub, and many other varieties have been decimated.

"Not forgetting the other river dwellers. Heron, kingfishers and creepy crawlies like water boatmen. I hope that whoever did this despicable act is punished to the absolute maximum. It won't bring the lost wildlife back but hopefully it will deter this ecological vandalism happening again."

Numerous Freedom of Information requests have been submitted by Macclesfield Nub News to the Environment Agency.

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