Fuel leak at Simonstone hotel kills fish (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Fuel leak at Simonstone hotel kills fish

12:00pm Tuesday 19th April 2011 in Simonstone By Chris Hopper, Reporter

FISH were killed after heating fuel at a hotel leaked into a stream.

The Environment Agency has launched an investigation following the incident at Higher Trapp Country House Hotel in Simonstone, which left about 20 brown trout and some insects dead.

Hotel bosses said they believed the kerosene tank, which powers an annex, was vandalised by someone possibly trying to steal fuel.

It resulted in the liquid leaking into grass and then into a nearby stream.

Jonathan Butterworth, operations manager at the Trapp Lane hotel, said a specialist clean-up contractor was appointed as soon as staff were alerted to the leak by the strong smell in the area.

Yesterday, the experts were on site using ‘scatter pads’ to absorb kerosene from the land and water.

Mr Butterworth said: “I think the Environment Agency is more than happy with the steps we have taken to minimise the impact of this.

“We are aware that some fish and other wildlife died because of the leak and whatever has been affected we will try to put right.”

The clean-up contractors would remain on site for several more days, he added.

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said the kerosene leak was ‘substantial’ but could not estimate the exact amount that escaped from the tank.

There was no danger to drinking water supplies but the leak killed ‘15 to 20’ brown trout and water boatman insects, she added.

She praised the hotel’s response to the incident but said the agency would monitor the response operation.

She said: “We will make sure the clean-up is up to scratch.”

Lancashire Police said it was aware of the incident but no crime had been reported.