12/01/2006 - Today Square Venture Limited pleaded guilty at Redditch Magistrates to a charge of causing polluting matter, in this instance detergent, to enter Wixon Brook. The charge was brought by the Environment Agency under section 85 of the Water Resources Act 1991. The company was fined £11,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £1,199.20

Speaking after the case, Olivia Preston, an Environment Agency officer involved in the investigation, said " All businesses should learn from this incident and ensure that any potentially polluting substances on their sites are stored securely and that procedures are in place to deal with any spillages and prevent them escaping."

For the Environment Agency, Claire Andrews told the court that on the 28 June 2005 an Environment Agency Officer attended a stretch of watercourse at the rear of Goose House, Feckenham Road, Hunt End, in Redditch. The Environment Agency had received reports of foam. An employee of Square Venture Limited confirmed that there had been an escape of a manufacturing ingredient. The source of the pollution was traced to Square Venture Limited, a producer and manufacturer of household cleaning products in the Hunt End industrial estate.

A considerable amount of foam was seen on the brook. The officer confirmed that the detergent that caused foaming had entered the surface drainage system serving the Hunt End industrial estate and Dunlop, which drains to the Wixon Brook. Foaming continued downstream where the brook enters Wharrage Wetlands. Samples and photographs were taken from the polluted stretch.

Fish deaths were identified at the point at which the Wixon Brook enters the Wharrage Wetlands. A total of 225 sticklebacks and 285 roach were found dead and 1000 sticklebacks and roach were seen in distress. Environment Agency staff removed approximately 20lbs of dead fish.

An environmental report on this pollution matter has stated that a significant number of invertebrates were affected along the whole of Wixon Brook downstream of the industrial units at Hunt End.

Environment Officers revisited the site on the 29 June and found that the amount of foaming had increased compared to the previous day.

Notably some 10Kms downstream at of the brook, the foam was three metres high and covered the width of the watercourse some five metres.

They returned to the polluted watercourse on the 30 June which began to how signs of improvement as the amount of foam had reduced, oxygen levels had increased and some surviving fish were identified.

In mitigation, Simon Libbish told the court that Square Venture Limited co-operated fully and employed contractors to clean up the pollution incident. They have also expanded the business and have implemented improved systems to prevent a recurrence.