Natural Resources Wales and Cadw are making investigations into how Caerphilly Castle moat became polluted with oil last week.
Local residents and visitors to the attraction reported the smell of oil around the water on Thursday April 14, and oil was later spotted on the surface of the moat.
Warning signs were placed on the walkways bordering the water, and Jacob Birch, Natural Resources Wales, said: “We have investigated a report of an oily sheen on the moat at Caerphilly Castle and are satisfied that no more oil is getting in to the moat. The water course feeding the moat was also free from oil.
“It appears that very little oil was present so there will have been very little impact on water quality and our officers found no signs of harm to wildlife.
“Unfortunately we were not able to find a source but if anyone has any information we would encourage them to contact us immediately on our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.”
However, local birdwatcher Graham posted on Twitter that staff at the Castle told him that some birds had been affected by the oil.
Sitting Mute Swan discoloured with oil. Water where stream meets moat is coloured. Hopefully it's not as bad as first feared.
— Caerffilibirder (@grahamw15563450) April 14, 2016
A spokesperson for the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, Cadw, added: “Cadw is working with Natural Resources Wales following an incident of pollution into the castle moat.
“NRW are looking for the source of the pollution which has come from outside the castle grounds.”
A little bit late for CADWR to suggest they are concerned about this and its effect on wildlife around the Castle, Whilst at the same time actively promote the killing and culling of wildlife in and around CAERPHILLY CASTLE the breaking of wings and legs of large geese in the process, the manned destruction of nests and habitate around the Castle, and the smashing of eggs, there is also some evidence that some wildlife may even be being shot round the CASTLE to control them, the people doing this are CADWR, an agency body of the Welsh Assembly, who are acting illegally.
The most ironic thing is that CAERPHILLY celebrates the Duck, Geese and Bird wildlife population in Caerphilly by erecting in the Main Street of the Town three BRONZE MONUMENTS to them, ( Cost £125,000) but, appears to do nothing to prevent this perverse destruction of historic wildlife in and around our Castle. The Gwent Wildlife Trust have to get their proirities right, the clue in this respect is also in the title, “The Gwent Wildlife Trust”. Where do they stand on determined and cruel destruction of habitat and wildlife in and around the Caerphilly Castle?.
The Feeder at the Crescent Road end of the Castle Moat (where the oil slick appeared) has not been cleaned and serviced for at least eight years, it is swimming in blockages of rubbish and harmful bottles and cans, footballs and smaller balls, tree branches and old garden furniture rocks which have been thrown at ducks and geese by uncontolled vandels, and old logs blocking the freerunning of the feeder.
Caerphilly Council undertook work reconstructing a bridge over the feeder, and offered CADWR the opportunity for them to clean this area at that time, all facilities were in place by the Council for CADWR to take advantage to do so at little or no cost, but CADWR rejected that offer made by the Council.
The Castle Custordians, CADWR, and local politicians representing the town, are totally irresponsible in the way it deals with its responsibilities to, wildlife, the people of the town, visitors to the Castle Gounds and to the Council Park around it, IN RESPECT TO DOING NOTHING TO PREVENT THIS CRIMINAL DESTRUCTION OF THE WILDLIFE POPULATION.