FEARS that a brook may be contaminated with surface water from a former chemical site have been raised by an MP.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones is speaking with the Environment Agency, Lancashire County Council and Hyndburn Council over constituent’s fears that Lottice Brook has been contaminated by surface water on the former Nipa Laboratories site.

Correspondence between the MP and LCC has revealed the agencies concerned are investigating the possibity that disturbances at the site have affected the brook.

The land had seen a large fly infestation take hold after waste was tipped there illegally.

Mr Jones said constituents had been contacting him with their concerns and one resident had made a video of the site and sent it to him.

He said: “I have written to the Environment Agency following a video that has sent to my office.

“I have had a response from the EA and also discussed the matter with Hyndburn Council who are doing an excellent job. Things are moving forward and the two authorities should be thanked as this is a very problematic site.

“I will continue to work hard for the residents of Oswaldtwistle on this issue and have already visited the site with the various agencies”.

A response to Mr Jones’ query from LCC’s environment manager Steve Molyneux described the issue as ongoing.

He said: “The site remains a former chemical works and represents a hazard to both the environment and people. There is contaminated surface water associated with the historic use of the site and a number of more recently excavated areas.

“Surface water on site is contaminated due to the sites former use as a chemical works.

“The Environment Agency has concerns that surface water management on site is poor and drainage from the site is reaching the local stream, Lottice Brook.

“As a consequence we have put in place a sampling and monitoring regime to determine the risk and requested that the Landowner Lockgate Mount Ltd improve the situation on site to protect the stream.

“We are awaiting a full suite of results to determine the sites overall impact on the brook.”