Company at centre of Walsall chemical spill working to "limit impact"

The company at the centre of a toxic chemical spill in Walsall have said they are working with authorities to minimise the impact to the canal network.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched an investigation after what it described as an "unacceptable" incident on Monday.

It is believed the spill of sodium cyanide originated from Anochrome Ltd, and has been stopped.

Walsall Council said a major incident was declared on Tuesday, following the spill.

In a statement, Anochrome Ltd said: "We can confirm that a chemical incident occurred at Anochrome Ltd Walsall in the early hours of Monday, 12 August 2024. Regrettably, as a result, some of the released chemicals entered a canal in Walsall.

"Our immediate response was to notify the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water. Our senior management team has been – and remain - on-site working collaboratively with all relevant authorities and agencies to minimise and contain the spill.

"In addition, from the moment we were aware of the incident, we have made all our facilities available to the authorities and agencies in attendance, including inhouse laboratory testing facilities.

"The safety of our community and the environment is our top priority. We are focused on limiting the impact of this incident and will provide further updates as they become available."

The public have been asked to avoid an extended area of the canal and towpaths from the Walsall lock flight to the lock flights at Rushall, Ryders Green and Perry Barr.

An EA spokesperson said: "We are working closely with Walsall Council and the UK Health Security Agency to respond to the serious chemical spill incident in Walsall and to assess the impact on the environment.

"We are now investigating the company that is believed to have caused this incident.

"Pollution of this kind is unacceptable and the impact on wildlife and the environment can be severe. We will take robust enforcement action if non-compliance is uncovered.

"We have established a sampling and testing programme and urge the public to follow safety advice given by the local council."

If your favourite music icons are the Spice Girls and your favourite Ks are Kylie and the Kardashians, you need heat Radio in your life! heat Radio is portable, so you can listen to us on the move. Simply download our app from your phone’s app store, listen online at heatradio.com and at heatworld.com. We’re on all the smart speakers too, just say “play heat Radio".