Environment Agency tackles pollution incident on River Cam

The Environment Agency is considering its next steps after oil was found in the River Cam.

Officials said oil-absorbent booms were deployed to tackle the pollution, which was reported at Baits Bite Lock on Friday (15 November).

Officers attended the site again on Monday (18 November) and used oil absorbent pads to soak up the oil on the river at the lock.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We have identified the source of the oil and the pollution has stopped.

“We are now considering our next steps in line with our enforcement and sanctions policy. Although members of the public may continue to notice some residual amounts of oil in the river verges downstream of the lock, it is our understanding that the oil is a biodegradable vegetable/plant hydraulic oil and will break down naturally.

“We would like to thank the members of the public who took the time to report this incident to our hotline (0800 80 7060) and would add that no impacts on fish or wildlife were reported as a result of this pollution.”