Walkers urged to steer clear of Osborne’s Pond following oil leak

Credit: DCC

Walkers are being warned by Derbyshire County Council to stay away from Osborne’s Pond in Shipley Country Park following an oil spill.

Rangers were made aware of the leak by a member of the public at lunchtime on Sunday 28th June 2026.

The area was cordoned off and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene to assist with containing the spillage, which was entering the pond through an inlet pipe.

Two booms were placed in front of the outlet to help contain the oil and rangers put dams in place across two streams to limit the flow of water. Up to 40 spill kits from the county council, fire and rescue service and local fishing club were placed in the pond to absorb as much oil as possible, with further work ongoing to soak up remaining oil.

Councillor Carol Wood, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Shipley Country Park remains open to walkers and other visitors but users are being urged to keep clear of Osborne’s Pond as a precautionary measure.

“To ensure everyone’s safety, we’re warning people not to enter the water for any reason, keep children well away from the pond and make sure dogs are kept on a lead in the area to prevent them swimming in or drinking the water.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved yesterday for their quick actions and we’ll continue to work alongside partner agencies in the coming days to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”

The source of the spill is not yet clear and the Environment Agency are on-site today to assess the situation.

Preparation was due to start on Monday 29th June for construction work to improve the stability of the dam on the other side of Osborne’s Pond.

The water level will not be lowered at the pond until the oil has been completely contained. Water is not currently over-topping the pond’s spillway, reducing the risk of the oil travelling further downstream.