Spillages and Environmental Incidents

Spillages

Roads and highways should be kept clean and free from spillages. Spillages could include oil, gravel or sand on the road or items that have fallen from a lorry or truck.

Where spillages are of a hazardous nature, the local police and fire service may also be involved, and road closures may be required. Spillages on the highway can lead to road traffic accidents or, at the very least, expense to the council.

Reporting road spillages

There are two main agencies who take care of our roads in Spelthorne:

• Surrey County Council
• National Highways

Road spillages that could present a danger to drivers should be reported to Surrey County Council.

If you have been involved in an accidental spillage or see an incident of spillage on the highway, please report it.

Motorways and A roads

National Highways (formerly known as Highways England) manages the strategic road network in England, which includes motorways and A roads. Spillages that occur on motorways and A roads should be reported to National Highways using the National Highways Report a Problem online form .

For urgent reports please call the National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000.

Emergency situations

In an emergency, please call 999.

Other useful links

National Highways Report a problem

Reporting a problem: FixMyStreet

Environmental incidents

An Environmental Incident is an event that may cause harm or potential harm to an environmental receptor e.g. air, water, land, wildlife or local habitat.

The following incidents should be reported to the Environment Agency online at Report an environmental incident - GOV.UK or via their telephone incident hotline 0800 80 70 60:

• collapsed or badly damaged river banks
• damage or danger to natural environment
• dead fish or fish gasping for air
• flooding from main rivers or the sea
• people taking water illegally from rivers, streams, canals or underground sources such as wells
• incidents at Environment Agency-regulated waste sites
• main rivers blocked by a vehicle or fallen tree causing risk of flooding
• poaching or illegal fishing
• pollution to water or land
• unusual changes in river flow

Waste Crime (hazardous waste and large-scale illegal dumping)

Should be reported to the Environment Agency (risks to Human Health or the environment) and anonymously to Crimestoppers Giving information anonymously | Crimestoppers or 0800 555 111.