OIL SPILL LATEST: All eyes on the tide as sea remains off limits

The sea along the Fylde coast remains off limits today, while the Fleetwood to Knott End ferry service also remains suspended.
Cleaners on the beach at Bispham earlier this weekCleaners on the beach at Bispham earlier this week
Cleaners on the beach at Bispham earlier this week

All the oil leaked from an off-shore storage tanker and washed up on the beach at Blackpool has been removed, Blackpool Council said yesterday, but the clean up operation is continuing in Wyre.

It is focusing heavily on Knott End and Pilling sands, with most of the beach at Cleveleys and Fleetwood now clear.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Environment Agency's advice to stay out of the sea at Fleetwood, Cleveleys, Bispham, Blackpool north, Blackpool central and Blackpool south, is still in place, Wyre Council said.

Visitors at Fleetwood RNLI's Lifeboat Day earlier today (Pic: Fleetwood RNLI)Visitors at Fleetwood RNLI's Lifeboat Day earlier today (Pic: Fleetwood RNLI)
Visitors at Fleetwood RNLI's Lifeboat Day earlier today (Pic: Fleetwood RNLI)

The slipway at Knott End is also closed to boats and jet skis, while the shellfish beds at Knott Spit and Sea Centre South in Knott End are also shut.

Visitors to Fleetwood RNLI's Lifeboat Day today were reminded the ferry service is still off. It is hoped it will be back up and running early next week however.

Specialists working on the oil spill are keeping an eye on the tide to see if it brings in any new oil. If it doesn't, the bathing water may be opened again at some point this weekend or early next week.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Some 11 tonnes of oil, sand, and stone have been removed by experts this week, ahead of the school summer holiday, which started yesterday for most.

Visitors at Fleetwood RNLI's Lifeboat Day earlier today (Pic: Fleetwood RNLI)Visitors at Fleetwood RNLI's Lifeboat Day earlier today (Pic: Fleetwood RNLI)
Visitors at Fleetwood RNLI's Lifeboat Day earlier today (Pic: Fleetwood RNLI)

The clean up operation began on Sunday, when oil washed up at Bispham in what was initially described as a 'small' problem by the Coastguard service.

It escalated the following day when oil began washing up as far south as the mirror ball in Blackpool, and as far north as the River Wyre.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The oil giant said between two and 20 tonnes of oil leaked there last Monday, and said it informed authorities 'immediately'.

A specialist group has been set up to monitor any impact on marine and wildlife, though there have been no reports of any as yet. One expert said the effect could be devastating.