Local Resident claims Poole Harbour oil leak occured a day earlier

A local resident claims that the Poole Harbour oil leak possibly occurred a day earlier than said.

According to Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC), the leak occurred on Sunday at a pipeline operated by Perenco.

Perenco is a gas and oil company with the UK’s largest onshore oil field at Wytch Farm in Dorset.

The company said a ‘small’ amount of reservoir fluid leaked from the pipe.

As of late sunday night, they said some of it had already been removed.

However, there are claims that the spillage actually occurred a day earlier.

A local, Scott Cooper, said: “I walked along the beach around 4PM on Saturday and there was a really strong diesel smell.

“I think Perenco sat on it for 24 hours and it only came out when people noticed oil at Hamworthy, which is a fair distance away.”

Approximately 200 barrels of the reservoir fluid escaped into the harbour when the pipe leaked.

People who came into contact with the water were urged to “wash immediately” by the PHC.

Extinction Rebellion activist, Fanny Glennon, said: “It is clearly apparent that a lack of accountability has led to substandard infrastructure.

“I’d question whether profit has been put ahead of safety.”

Perenco company confirmed a clean up operation is under-way.

They also stressed that the “situation is under control” and a full investigation will be held to understand what happened.

Extinction Rebellion activist, Fanny Glennon, said: “My guess to why Perenco would sit on the news would be that they were hoping people wouldn’t notice.

“And that they wouldn’t have to go public with it.”