Poole Harbour oil leak: clean-up to continue for "many weeks"

Jim Stewart, the Chief Executive of Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC), said the area is now “relatively clear of oil” but efforts to clear the land surrounding the leak site are ongoing.

It comes just days after the body announced that swimming, watersports and other activities could resume at the harbour. 

Meanwhile, Perenco, the private firm that runs the Wytch Farm oil field, has opened applications for compensation for people impacted by the disaster. 

Mr Stewart said: “Since Sunday we’ve been hard at work helping to clear that side, but also dealing with oil as it’s come ashore at different parts of the harbour.

“It’s been quite a complicated process.

“The main point of focus is over at the Perenco site over at Ower Bay, that’s where the leak took place, and the clean-up is continuing there, and I think it will continue for many weeks over on that particular site.

“A lot of the land surrounding the pipe has been contaminated with oil, and that will need to be remediated, so we will be working with Perenco, the Environment Agency and Natural England to understand the best way to remediate that particular space.”

While operations continue around Ower Bay, Mr Stewart said the clean-up in the wider harbour had gone well.

“We’re pleased to say there’s no more oil coming into the harbour and the clean-up has been very successful, which is why yesterday we were able to lift the advice for people about not using the harbour for recreation,” he said.

“That advice has now been lifted so people can get back to enjoying the harbour.”

The Environment Agency has launched a full investigation, involving Perenco, into the cause of the leak.

“We look forward to seeing that report when it is published,” Mr Stewart said.

“At this stage, it is not clear why the pipe fractured, so we’re still waiting to get further news on that from Perenco and the Environment Agency.”

While tests are still being done to assess the impact of the spill on shellfish, Mr Stewart said the board was pleased its “worst fears” for damage to wildlife had not happened.

He said PHC would be carrying out a full review into the response to the incident, to see if there were any lessons that could be learned moving forward.

“Generally speaking, I think everybody’s very happy because all the different agencies came together on day one, we had meetings on Sunday afternoon as soon as we were aware of the incident,” he said.

“We’re delighted with the response of the other partners.”

Mr Stewart added: “This is the first major oil spill incident we’ve had in Poole Harbour, and I’ve been here for over 20 years.

“It is a rare occurrence.”