Mary Emma Holly

AN oil spill caused by a massive inferno in an electricity substation has shut down a two-mile stretch of the Regent’s Canal.

Canal chiefs issued a “do not move” order to boaters between Paddington and Camden Lock as they worked with the National Grid to stop the spread of the slick. The oil has been oozing out of a tunnel closed since the “major incident” in Aberdeen Place, Lisson Grove, on Tuesday morning.

Waterbus firms have been grounded while people living in canal boats say they have seen dead wildlife floating along the waterway.

Teams were this week out working “to help minimise the spread of pollution” during the closure that has blocked off a major route for boats hoping to attend the annual Canal Cavalcade celebration in Little Venice this bank holiday weekend.

Mary Emma Holly, who has lived on the canal for two years, said: “It’s awful, it really is. I spoke to the police, They were everywhere, it was quite amazing how many, really, and they said the oil is from the cables. It is used as some kind of insulating system and the oil poured out of them.”

She added: “There isn’t much they can do except to wait for it gradually to wash away. Not being able to move doesn’t really affect people where we are but in terms of crayfish and biodiversity it’s a nightmare. I saw a turtle that was struggling to survive.

“We had an oil spill last year and the impact of that lasted for several months. You look forward to feeding the signets and goslings when they are around. So it’s terrible when they are not here.”
Police cordons were put in place following the fire that started at about 6am.

A transformer caught fire and briefly the flames spread to a neighbouring housing block.

Thick black smoke surged high into the air and more than 100 firefighters tackled the blaze with more than 80 people evacuated from nearby. Westminster City Council had teams there helping residents at the Wharncliffe Gardens Community Centre.

Many hours later stagnant oil could be seen pooling for around 50 metres from the tunnel, close to Edgware Road, and workers were using absorbent, carpet-style, mats to soak it up.

The decision to shut the canal to Camden Town was made to keep the waters still and stop the oil spreading in the churn.

Waterboat companies told Extra how their fleet had been covered in oil from the spill. Their businesses were severely disrupted by the closure and tourists were being turned away in Camden Town yesterday, Thursday.

Ian Shacklock, from the Friends of Regent’s Canal, said: “I don’t think we should leave any stones unturned. I’m suspicious that this fire was avoidable. Will there be any investigations into how and why the equipment became faulty? Staff cutbacks? Cuts in expenditure budgets? Staff being forced to work unreasonable hours?

“What about the interruption to an arterial waterway? And just imagine what damage could have been caused to a 200-year-old tunnel,” he said.

On Wednesday The Canal & River Trust said: “We continue to request that boaters do not move in the affected area to help minimise the spread of pollution.

“Specialist contractors have started to empty the generator tanks and will continue overnight. Clean-up of the canal is under way and the western portal has been skimmed today and booms are still in place. We plan to start to draw the water through the tunnel tomorrow by using Camden Lock and collecting the oil as it exits. All being well we are hoping to have the tunnel and therefore navigation back open Friday afternoon. If there is any change to this timeline then the notice will be updated accordingly.”

A UK Power Networks spokesperson said: “UK Power Networks promptly deployed its specialist environmental response contractor to an incident in Aberdeen Place, NW8, on Tuesday (29 Apr).

“They have been on site throughout the week, working with the Canals and River Trust, to contain and recover the runoff. Our specialist environmental contractor will remain in attendance over the weekend and an ongoing response team will be available as required into next week.

“The majority of the runoff has been recovered and protection (absorbent booms) has been installed around the surface water outfalls.

“We informed the Environment Agency on the day and will continue working with Canals and River Trust.”