Clean-up operation begins after diesel spills into river

A MAJOR clean-up operation is under way at the River Almond after vandals caused 2,000 litres of diesel to spill into the water.

Officials are currently assessing the level of impact to local wildlife at the scene of the spill in Kirkton, Livingston, while members of the public have been told to stay clear.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said that "extensive pollution" to the river had occurred after a break-in to a derelict print centre, which saw vandals damage a diesel tank.

Around 2,000 litres of the fuel gushed into a burn and spread to the river before the spill was stopped.

Local residents reported seeing dead and dying fish at the river while the RSPB also had to rescue a group of ducklings covered in oil. The spill is thought to have spread around two to three miles along the path of the river.

Simon Cole, a senior environmental protection officer for SEPA, said: "Initial investigations carried out by our officers have identified that the source of the pollution was a vandalised diesel tank in the derelict Buchanan House on Kirkton Road North, the former EDS print centre in Livingston.

"A clean-up operation is now under way to try to minimise the impact on the surrounding environment."

He added: "Our officers are remaining on site to continue their investigations and are liaising with West Lothian Council's environmental health officers and the SSPCA, who are concerned about the river's wildlife."

Diesel is now being sucked out of the drains on site, and booms have been laid over the tributary of the Almond.

Fenwick Howieson, of the Forth District Salmon Fishery Board, said it was the third pollution incident at the river in the past five years.

He said: "There are stacks of dead fish and fish gulping for air.

"This is going to have a huge environmental impact and could not have come at a worse time due to the warm weather and low flows."

Scottish SPCA Chief Inspector Paul Anderson added: "We were alerted to the diesel spill in the River Almond at Livingston on Wednesday and we have already rescued five ducklings from the water that were covered in diesel oil.

"They were transported to our Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fife where we have specialist cleaning facilities for oiled birds.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and attend to any other wild birds or animals affected by the spill."

Buchanan House was the former EDS print centre in Livingston, a private facility for printing government giro cheques.

Due to the nature of the work that used to be done there, security was tight.