Fears ammonia pollution has killed willow trees and water life in North Yorkshire

Last month, villagers in Marton-cum-Grafton, North Yorkshire, raised the alarm when they could smell ammonia coming from Goker Beck and noticed the water had gone jet black.

It is thought to originate from a breached bund of a slurry pit nearby.

Ammonia is a strong industrial chemical used to produce fertiliser, and can hurt your skin, eyes, throat, and lungs.

Since then, the Environment Agency has put in place bunds in place to prevent the ammonia leaking into the rivers Ure and Ouse, and continues to take water quality assessments.

However, concerns have been raised that more than three miles of stream remains affected.

Residents in the area have told the Green Party that mature willow trees appear to be dying, with aquatic life in the beck also being killed.

North Yorkshire Green Coun Arnold Warneken has criticised the authorities for apparently being slow to warn of the dangers for farmers, dog walkers and swimmers.

More recently, the EA along with North Yorkshire Council and UKHSA have advised members of the public to avoid entering Bawter Carr and Holbeck Drain, keep dogs and other animals out of the water in affected areas and avoid using nearby footpaths.

Coun Warneken said: “It shouldn’t be necessary for a Councillor like me to raise the alarm when the Environment Agency already has the facts.

“The public rely on the authorities to protect them from harm, and to let them know when there’s a health risk - for both residents, their pets, and farmers’ livestock. It took a full two weeks until there was a full public health assessment.

“That’s just not good enough. I’m proud, though, of how quickly our council officers responded once they understood the risk.

“I know that the EA has worked hard to stop the pollution travelling further - and they did react quickly. But the communication was lacking - and that left the community in the dark.

“Health aside, this is a devastating blow for local ecosystems and wildlife that breaks my heart. The spill was short-term, but the full impact will be measured in years.”

Alex Farquhar, of the Angling Trust, said: “Ultimately, it is up to the UKHSA to communicate any public health risks to the local council, who can take the necessary steps to protect the public.

“In this case, the community has acted first by installing their own signs to inform water users about potential risks. We will follow closely how this case unfolds once the EA decides on its course of action.”

The EA has since confirmed that it does not believe there is a danger to human life from the pollution, and said no fish deaths had been noted in the Ure or Ouse.

However, a letter to Coun Warneken did confirm that the water survey in Marton-cum-Grafton found “extremely poor water quality and the widespread loss of aquatic invertebrate species”.

An EA spokesperson said: “In response to the recent pollution spill in Marton-cum-Grafton, our officers have worked alongside the landowner to install containment measures and prevent further ammonia from the emptied fertiliser lagoon reaching the River Ure.

“Levels of ammonia in the river are already showing a marked improvement, and we will continue to closely monitor these levels and provide advice to the landowner.

“A thorough investigation is currently underway and we will keep the community informed as it progresses.”