Family forced to leave home after ‘ solvent’ dumped in pub car park
A FAMILY has left their home on safety grounds after gallons of a “chemical solvent” was dumped on to a Yorkshire pub car park close to their property.
The Environment Agency has confirmed it is working with Sheffield Council and other organisations to investigate the incident at the Royal Oak pub in Mosborough on the outskirts of the city.
The EA said the pollutant “has not posed any risk to nearby watercourses or drinking water” following the incident on October 11. Sheffield Council said two nearby properties have been affected by the issue.
The incident is believed to have taken place sometime after the pub closed at 10pm on October 10, probably in the early hours of the following morning.
Michael Wattam, who lives in a house affected by the chemical spillage with his wife, daughter and granddaughter, said he is now living in a hotel after being evacuated.
He said his family have all undergone hospital tests and do not know how long they will be out of their property for.
“We are still feeling the effects of breathing in those chemicals for days and days before we were advised to move out on safety grounds,” he said.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “Our officers have been on site, assessing potential risks to the environment.”
Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts said he had been told by South Yorkshire Police that there is an investigation under way.
“It still appears to be an isolated incident and the Environmental Agency, Public Health and local fire service have been working together to contain the leak which so far has not spread beyond the immediate area around the drain the chemicals were originally spilt down,” he said.
Details of what the chemical solvent specifically was have not been released by the Environment Agency.
The pub is fenced off and has a ‘‘ for sale’’ sign outside. South Yorkshire Police have been approached for comment.