A Scottish fisherman is claiming compensation from his water company after he suffered vomiting, diahorrhea, itching and burning sensations when silt from a reservoir near the town of Lesmahagow was washed into the river where he fished. The fisherman, Mr Delaney, is claiming £13,000 for the injuries he says he suffered after freak storms caused the silt to be washed down a run off pipe and into the River Nethan, where as well as injuring him, it caused the deaths of around 100,000 fish.
The pollution occurred on May 10 2008 when a period of freak storms caused the unstable silt in the reservoir to be dislodged. The situation was worsened as the reservoir had been drained two days beforehand so that maintenance work could be carried out. If it had been full of water at the time of the storm, it is unlikely that the silt would have been washed into the river.
Mr Delaney, who is a fishery researcher for Nethan Valley Angling Association spoke to local press after Scottish Water denied responsibility for the spill. Commenting on the letter from Scottish Water, Mr Delaney said; “I’m angry… because they have kept us out of the loop. If it was not Scottish Water then who was it who had the reservoir drained down for maintenance work? We are about to report Scottish Water to the Angler’ Conservation Association. It is very successful in taking companies like them to court. I intend pursuing this to the very end even if it kills me.”
Where members of the public have been affected by the actions of an organisation, as in the case of Mr Delaney’s exposure to the silt from the reservoir, there could be a case to claim personal injury compensation.
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