Health and wellbeing
Update - Toxic chemical spillage - 4pm, 29 August 2024
Published on
On Friday 16 August 2024, the chemical spillage was stood down as a major incident by the West Midlands Local Resilience Forum.
FAQs containing guidance and advice about the toxic chemical spill can now be viewed on the council website - further information will be added as it becomes available on the Council's Website
Working with colleagues at the Canal & River Trust, Walsall Council is holding drop-in sessions to speak to residents and businesses about the spillage and the actions that have been taken.
The first of these sessions takes place on Friday 30 August 2024 from 1pm to 3pm at the LMRCA Railway Club, Sports Club, Wednesday Road, Walsall WS1 4JG.
A follow up session is due to be held next Friday 6 September 2024 from 4pm until 6pm at St John's Church, Pleck and Bescot, Scarborough Road, Walsall WS2 9TR.
Our priority continues to be the safety of our residents and canal users. However, with the pollution contained and with water quality testing by the Environment Agency showing that pollution levels within the water are reducing, attention is increasingly turning to the effort to recover the canal and its wildlife.
The source of the spillage from Anochrome Ltd was stopped and an investigation is underway by the Environment Agency into its cause.
Although risks are low, anyone who has been exposed (direct physical contact with canal water) along the affected stretch of the canal and is feeling unwell, should seek health advice via 111 or 999 in an emergency.
Ends
Background
This is a multi-agency response including:
• Environment Agency
• UKHSA
• Walsall, Birmingham, Dudley and Sandwell Councils
• WM Police
• WM Fire
• WMAS
• Canal & River Trust
• Severn Trent Water
• NHS
