MP Raises Concern Over Absence of Prosecution After Fish Deaths
Steve Barclay, former Environment Secretary and current Member of Parliament for the area, has raised questions in Parliament regarding the absence of any prosecution following the discovery of hundreds of dead fish in a dyke.
Incident Details
Approximately 900 fish died due to elevated ammonia levels and low oxygen concentrations at Kings Delph, near Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, in September 2024.
Government Response
In response to Barclay's inquiry, Water Minister Emma Hardy stated that she was
"happy to look into that".
Statements from Agencies and Local Residents
The Environment Agency (EA) and Anglian Water, which manages the dyke, have been contacted for comment regarding the incident.
Residents living near Kings Delph expressed feelings of anger and distress over the large number of fish deaths, the foul odour, and the discoloured water.
Cause and Classification of the Incident
At the time of the event, the EA reported that Anglian Water's pumping station had discharged for 23 hours following a pump failure.
The incident was classified as a "category one" event, indicating it had a
"major effect" on either water quality, human health, conservation or businesses.
Further Parliamentary Questions
Barclay specifically questioned why
"no prosecution has been made"in relation to the incident.
He requested that the secretary of state provide an explanation, to which Hardy responded that she would investigate further and provide a written response.
Additional Information
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