River Cole in Small Heath polluted with “blue chemical”

Birmingham’s River Cole, which is part of the Kingfisher Country Park, is showing disturbing signs of a “chemical” leak at the section near the Small Heath Highway where construction work is underway.

The water of the river has turned blue and local residents are concerned about danger to fish and wildlife.

Walkers and cyclists who use the Kingfisher Country Park, which stretches from Small Heath to Sollihull, have reported signs of pollution in the River Cole which runs through the nature reserve.

The section of the River Cole near the Small Heath Highway and Coventry Road, where a long term construction project is underway, is reportedly streaked with an unnatural blue and turquoise tint.

A local resident told I Am Birmingham that there is also a pungent smell around the area where the water is stained.

Larry Dean, 27, saw the pollution on Tuesday (11 January) and said: “I was on my regular jog in Kingfisher Park when I detected a weird smell. I looked across and spotted a blue layer on the river’s surface. At first I thought it was a reflection of the sky but it wasn’t.

“The smell and colour left me in doubt that this was some sort of chemical leakage from somewhere nearby. Maybe a lorry from the roadworks spilled something here, or a local factory has a leak.

“The water was blue in some parts, and turquoise in others, and then brown as the chemical dispersed further out.”

The area where the water is showing signs of the mysterious blue colour flows near some industrial units. The River Cole also flows close to the Tyseley recycling plant which operates an incinerator plant at the site.

There are fears that waterfowl, fish and other wildlife could be endangered by this strange pollution.

I Am Birmingham has contacted Birmingham City Council for a response regarding this environmental issue and an update will follow.