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Dead fish had been dumped

Tom Rowley
15/ 2/2006

ENVIRONMENT Agency inspectors found something very fishy after investigating an incident in an Old Glossop brook - and that was apart from dead rainbow trout.

A woman was alarmed to find rainbow trout dead in Blackshaw Brook on Wesley Street on Friday. She contacted Old Glossop Residents' Association chairman Frank Ainley, who got in touch with the environmental watchdog.

Old Glossop councillor Ivan Bell suspected pollution - citing raw sewage which may have got into the stream and caused oxygen levels to plummet - or even foul play.

However, an environment agency spokeswoman said: "An officer went out to investigate and found all the brown trout seemed fine in that stretch of water and only the rainbow trout had died, so there was no evidence of pollution having taken place. It looks like someone must have dumped these dead fish in there."

The incident follows on from carp, roach and perch found dead in Manor Park last week after a fresh water feeder culvert was blocked. High Peak Council marine engineers had also lowered water levels to carry out essential maintenance work. Firefighters had to flush the culvert to find the blockage and then filled the lake with fresh river water.

The council's parks' team is working with Manor Park friends' group to get both water flow and quality back to normal.