17-May-2006 - An expensive
clean-up operation is underway after drums of
used motor oil were deliberately dumped along
a roadside verge near Exeter. One of the 45 gallon
drums burst, spilling oil across a road between
Rockbeare and Marsh Green.
The offenders are believed to
have struck on Saturday evening (May 13) when
a total of seven drums were tipped in gateways
and verges along a 400 metre stretch of a country
road close to Exeter Airport. Three of the blue-coloured
drums were dumped close to a fly-over across the
A30
The Environment Agency was alerted
by Devon County Council after oil spilled across
a 50 metre length of the road posing a hazard
to motorists. Safety signs have been erected warning
of the danger of skidding and contractors brought
in to grit the road and help with the clean-up.
Some of the oil also entered
surface water drains that have been cleaned. So
far, there is no sign of the pollution having
affected a nearby stream.
The Agency is appealing to members
of the public to help catch the fly-tippers whose
actions resulted in a pollution clean-up operation
costing thousands of pounds. It is keen to hear
from anyone who saw a vehicle or people behaving
suspiciously in the vicinity of Marsh Green on
Saturday evening.
‘This was a blatant act of fly-tipping
carried out by people who clearly didn’t care
about the consequence of their actions. The drums
were very heavy and it is likely the offenders
used a van or truck, possibly with some sort of
lifting mechanism,’ said Karen Irwin for the Environment
Agency.
Used motor oil is a hazardous
waste and should be collected by a licensed operator
for re-processing or sent to a licensed site for
safe disposal.
