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River Darent oil leak in Mill Pond Road, Dartford causes a stink for 'gassed out' flat tenants

A couple say they are being "gassed out" of their rented flat due to the "atrocious" stink of fuel that's leaked into a nearby pond.

IT worker Tom Roffe and his partner live in a flat in Mill Pond Road, which forms part of the Langley Square new homes development in Dartford town centre.

The oil leak at Mill Pond Road, Dartford. Photo: Tom Roffe
The oil leak at Mill Pond Road, Dartford. Photo: Tom Roffe

The block is billed as ideal for families and couples wanting to live in a "leafy garden suburb" opposite the station.

But Tom, 37, says recent oil leaks from the River Darent which flows into the Mill Pond have given the couple a "cracking headache".

The software developer says the smell of fumes coming off the water have made them both feel nauseous.

He said: "Originally it started on March 1 and I reported it to the Environment Agency and they said we have investigated it."

After reporting the leaks Tom says he was told it was due to an 'oil bunkering operation' where the supplying of fuel is transferred for use by ships.

An investigation is underway by Thames Water which says the leak at the Mill Pond in Dartford has originated from a pumping station. Photo: Tom Roffe (55686889)
An investigation is underway by Thames Water which says the leak at the Mill Pond in Dartford has originated from a pumping station. Photo: Tom Roffe (55686889)

Shortly after that, clean-up crews came and started skimming the surface.

But the tenant claims the job has not been completed and has made repeated calls over the last few weeks to get the pond cleaned up.

"I've more or less been gassed out of my flat because of the fuel vapors evaporating off the warming pond," he added.

"Now the weather is getting warmer we can smell it and it stinks. The smell is atrocious."

The couple both work from home and find themselves walking into the town centre just to escape the smell. Tom says the leak has also had a negative impact on wildlife.

"It is having a direct effect on the ecology of the pond if fish are dying," he added. "There are some quite mature carp in the mill pond.

"I have only seen the one but we have only got to look at the site of the pond to know the ducks in there are affected."

Clean-up crews were spotted again on site on Friday.

Tom added: "It has improved. They were pumping all last night but I'm not quite sure what they were pumping."

Thames Water says its working hard to contain the spill which entered the watercourse via one of its pumping stations.

Langley Square in Dartford. Photo: Google
Langley Square in Dartford. Photo: Google

A spokeswoman for the company, Becky Trotman, said: “We have a large team working to contain the oil pollution and are arranging for any oil on the surface of the pond to be skimmed off.

"We also have a team checking the pipes that carry surface water to the pumping station to try and trace the source of the oil and are keeping the Environment Agency up to date on our investigation."

It adds that such instances are not uncommon and are often due to oil from a vehicle entering the surface water sewer system through a roadside drain, or from industrial areas.

The Environment Agency also confirmed reports and says it is continuing to monitor the situation.

Andrew Walker, a spokesman for the agency, said: “We have acted on reports from members of the public of oil on the River Darent.

“We will continue to work with Thames Water as they work to identify the source of the pollution and stop any further discharges from the site."

"Oil was found coming from a pumping station on Overy Lane and we have worked with Thames Water to stop the pollutant and reduce any harm to the environment.

“We will continue to work with Thames Water as they work to identify the source of the pollution and stop any further discharges from the site.

“Members of the public should report suspected environmental incidents to our Environment Agency free 24-hour Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.”

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