Yorkshire Water issues explanation after straw bales used in response to pollution incident

During Yorkshire Water’s inspection, the company placed straw bales in front of the source of the leak. It later traced the source of the pollution to an unnamed private party.

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said: “Our teams have attended Fleet Beck and have traced the source of the pollution to a private culvert, owned by a separate third-party. However, we have been working with the Environment Agency to mitigate the impact of the pollution on the watercourse.

“Straw hay bales can be used to catch debris whilst pollution incidents are still actively being resolved. It is a temporary measure to reduce impact on the watercourse and is commonly used.”

North Yorkshire Green Party Councillor, Arnold Warneken, initially criticised the use of the staw bales, saying the response was “obviously not satisfactory”.

The Environment Agency attended the site and concluded that any environmental impact from the incident had been “minimal”.