MP raises question in Parliament over fish deaths

The former Environment Secretary Steve Barclay has asked in Parliament why there has been no prosecution after hundreds of dead fish were found floating in a dyke.

About 900 fish died because of elevated levels of ammonia and low levels of oxygen at Kings Delph, near Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, in September 2024.

In response to Barclay, who is the MP for the area, Water Minister Emma Hardy said she was "happy to look into that".

The Environment Agency told the BBC the "complex investigation" was completed in December, with a file of evidence due to be reviewed.

Anglian Water, which is responsible for the dyke, has been contacted for comment.

Residents living by Kings Delph said they felt angry and "sick" at the huge number of fish deaths, the foul odour and discoloured water.

At the time, the Environment Agency said Anglian Water's pumping station discharged for 23 hours after a pump failed.

It was classed as a "category one" incident, meaning it had a "major effect" on either water quality, human health, conservation or businesses.

Barclay questioned why "no prosecution has been made".

He asked the secretary of state to explain why, and Hardy told him she would look into it and get back to him in writing.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "This has been a complex investigation with many different forms of inquiry. We completed the investigation in December 2025 and a file of evidence is due to be submitted to our legal team,who will then review it.

"We cannot provide any further updates until our legal team has reviewed the file and an enforcement decision has been made."

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