King's Lynn residents concerned about waterway pollution
An ongoing concern about the deterioration of a waterway in Lynn has seen frustrated residents get together to find a solution.
The Middleton Stop Drain near the railway line is based at The Chase, a green area that was registered as village status in 2005 and can be accessed via Chase Avenue.
The residents, led by Barry Tomlin have voiced their concerns a number of times to the Environment Agency (EA) as in the last couple of years they have seen the waterway has deteriorated.
Residents have described dead fish and a 'gloopy' and brown consistency of water and they have seen a decline in numbers in water vole, kingfishers and other wildlife dwinding.
Barry asked the Lynn News to visit the site in order to highlight their concerns.
Barry Tomlin said: "As you can see it is stagnant, although clearer than yesterday, but it is an important little area.
"Kids picnic here and ride their bikes and for residents it is most important.
"Some gardens back on to it and there is not a lot of rubbish which shows the sorts of people who live here."
Chris and Marie Rawlins have lived in the area for 30 years and Chris said: "There have been various incidents and we have spotted dead fish.
"This waterway is a filter system in to the River Nar and there were lots of dead fish so we contacted the EA and they said that it was just a change in weather conditions.
"There are a few factories and Anglian Water with drain outlets and we wonder if there is a sewage tank under the ground."
Kevin Coyle has lived at The Chase for 42 years and he said: "The decline over that period of time has been unbelievable.
"It's always been that if there as heavy rain there's a colour but then it would clear again. Gradually in it everything has died.
"You could see the fish in it but now you can't see the bottom."
Correspondence from the EA area director in August 2020 regarding the repeated pollution of the Middleton Stop Drain stated: "We have always responded to reports to our Incident Hotline and have deployed both officers and equipment to try and mitigate damage and investigate likely point sources.
"We regret that we have been unable to identify the polluters with any certainty of evidence, but we are targeting the likely industrial areas with Pollution Prevention Guidance, reminding the businesses of their responsibility for the environment."
With continuing concern that there has been no progress made, the residents are worried about dogs or children swimming in the waterway as there has been no solution to what is causing the pollution.
Mr Tomlin has in the past couple of years enlisted the help of North West Norfolk MP James Wild and local councillors who are keen to help, but as yet the waterway remains in a poor state.
EA and Anglian Water have been contacted by the Lynn News for comment.
