TfL is working with Arriva, which operates Thornton Heath Bus Garage, as it carries out its own investigation into a leak of fuel from a storage tank there.
This is in addition to the Environment Agency probing the disaster, as an urgent clean-up operation continues.
Around 4,000 litres of diesel has flowed into the River Wandle as a result of the spill, having entered the drainage system before being dumped into the watercourse, with a local expert predicting its impacts on wildlife will last years and potentially undo decades of conservation work.
TfL has also confirmed in a statement that ‘there is no current or foreseen impact to the availability of services operating from the garage’ as vehicles can refuel at other locations while the investigation continues.
TfL has committed resources from its Safety, Health, and Environment Team, as well as its Engineering Team to assist with Arriva’s investigation.
TfL added: “While the investigation is still in its very early stages, we have taken steps to communicate what we have learnt about the incident with other operators to avoid such an event occurring again.”
TfL acknowledged the environmental concern, stating: “Any pollution into London’s waterways is completely unacceptable and we will play our part in tackling river pollution both from roads we control and our vehicle fleet.”
Earlier this week, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to River Wandle expert Dr Jack Hogan about the potentially devastating impact of the oil spill. Dr Hogan believed the spill was the worst on the river since 2007.
He told the LDRS: “It’s devastating, but we won’t know the extent of it yet. This damage is not just measured in days or weeks but potentially years.”
