‘Serious questions’ need to be asked about a leak from a pipeline at an onshore oil field into Poole Harbour in Dorset, the local council leader has said.
About 200 barrels of reservoir fluid, including oil, leaked from a pipeline which led to a major incident being declared.
People were urged not to swim at the harbour or surrounding areas and a team of 60 with a helicopter and drones responded.
The leak came from Wytch Farm, an oil field and processing facility that produces about 14,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council leader Philip Broadhead said: ‘When I first heard about this yesterday I was angry and disappointed.
‘From what we are hearing it is a small leak of reservoir fluid which was caught fortunately quite quickly – they've stopped any further leaks, they've got booms up, so one hopes at the moment that we have avoided any real disaster here.
‘We won't know more until this morning but the early indications are that the surface slick is already dispersing. You want it out to sea and dispersing as quickly as possible.
‘It's unacceptable. The operator has already said there will be an investigation, but some serious questions need to be answered.’
