The Wandle and the damage done

8:58am Sunday 12th October 2008

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A year on from the toxic spill that killed thousands of fish in the River Wandle, local experts are encouraged by its recovery but are desperate for help from the local community to maintain the health of the river.

The spill in September last year killed at least 2,000 fish along a 5km stretch of the river between Croydon and Wandsworth.

After seeing fish floating on the surface of the river, concerned residents and fishermen called the Environment Agency to try to limit the damage.

Before Christmas last year, Thames Water, who were held responsible for the spill, paid the Environment Agency £500,000 to revive and revitalise the Wandle over the next five years.

The investment will come in two installments of £250,000 each and will be paid over the next five years.

The first stages of rehabilitation began with the release of an independent study on the ecological state and the Environment Agency's reintroduction of 5,000 young fish into the river.

The first installment will help two local angling clubs, the Wandle Piscators and Morden Park Hall Angling Club, back on their feet.

Theo Pike, chairman of the Wandle Trust, said: “The river is on the way to recovery but to ensure this happens, we really need to the help of the lcoal community.

“We have clean-ups every month and we need as many people as possible to come down and help us out.

“There used to be lots of healthy, big fish in the river and it is going to take a long time for the restocked fish to grow, as well as the invertebrates.

“It’s also not just about the river. The second installment of the money from Thames Water will be used to clean up and improve the entire habitat surrounding the river.”

Weeds, plants and animals, such as shrimp, were also affected by the pollutant, although birds and mammals seem to be unharmed.

The river was once dubbed a "sewer" because of waste from tanneries flowing into it during the Industrial Revolution, but regular clean-ups restored its former glory as one of the best chalk streams in the country.

For more information about the Sunday clean-ups and to get involved with maintaining the river, please visit wandletrust.org wandletrust.org