What’s happened to our beautiful stream?
A STREAM in Bulwell enjoyed by local walkers has turned white.
A resident spotted the discoloured water at Bulwell Hall Park on Wednesday and posted her findings online.
But to her surprise, other locals said they had spotted the sight months ago and had reported it to the Environment Agency, but that nothing had been done.
The dog walker said: “I was like ‘oh my God’. I was just gobsmacked. My dog usually likes to go in the water. I used to take my kids there for a paddle when they were younger. I couldn’t let my dog go anywhere near that water now.
“All the rocks are encased in white. It looks like gloss paint. It’s like the substance has damaged the actual bed of the stream. And the water doesn’t look like water.”
The stream, behind the golf house and cafe, leads from the old Rollsroyce airfield at Hucknall to the lakes at Bulwell Hall Park.
The resident who spotted it was walking her dog in the park for the first time since September. She said she usually avoids the park during the winter, but due to the nice weather on Wednesday, she thought she’d pay a visit.
She said: “It’s always been a beautiful stream. I used to go there with my parents when I was younger. I like to go up to the stream every time I go to that park. Last year I went and it was clear.
“I saw it from a distance and thought: ‘What’s going off?’ I was shocked. I thought I’d take some pictures and then found that everybody else has experienced it too. So why isn’t somebody doing something?”
The old airfield next to Bulwell Hall Park, where the stream originates is the site of a huge new housing estate. Properties are still being built there by Persimmon Homes and Harron Homes.
A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes said: “Our site team has carried out an inspection of the manholes which lead from our parcel of homes at Hawkers Place, and can confirm that there are no contaminants from the land on the site we have responsibility for.”
A spokesperson for Harron Homes said: “Due to the drainage systems in place at our Sandlands Park development, it is not feasible for any contamination at Bulwell Hall to have originated from the development.”
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We are aware of reports of a pollution incident at the Bulwell Hall Park stream and an investigation is ongoing.
“Our officers have attended the site and we are working with the landowner and local businesses nearby to mitigate impacts, identify the pollution and take appropriate action.”