Bedfordshire

There will also be provision for controlling multi-loads. The composite label, unless some unforeseen complication arises, could be law by the end of this year.

It includes the Hazchem code, which informs the emergency services but conveys little to the general public; the standard United Nations number; the diamond warning sign; and details of the cargo source. The consultative document will also explain provisions for enforcing any new regulations. Presumably responsibility for enforcement will be split, since the intention is that the labels will be carried at all times - on the road, in factory yards, and even while travelling to and from testing stations.

It remains to be seen how the scheme for reshaping the control of dangerous cargoes fits in to any overall European plans.

FLOOD OF PETROL FOR HOURS "From the Daily Telegraph, Thursday February 17th, 1977. More than 50,000 gallons of petrol swamped fields and ditches in Canvey

Island, Essex, as a tanker pumped fuel into a depot where a valve had been left open, Southend magistrates were told recently. Earlier London and Coastal Oil Wharves of Holehaven, Canvey Island, leaded guilty to two summonses for to take precautions to prevent the escape of petroleum spirit and failing to immediately notify the fire brigade of a petrol spillage on their premises. They were fined a total of £700 with £40 costs.

Essex county council consumer t pro tec · l.on officer Mr . Norman Parish . said that on the 2nd January thl.s year a tanker was discharging fuel into the company's depot.

After three and a half hours the staff discover ed the pump was full of petrol and the opera l.on was immediately stopped . It was d · d that a l.scovere 11 . the open a oWl.ng valve had been left fuel to flow through an uncapped pipe .

pump

The petrol had f lowed out of the house and was lying in the ditches and on the land nearby. bri gade was not told for about the incident. The fi re nine hours Mr. Parish said the company had been warned by the fire authorities in 1974 that there was a danger of spillage if they did not cap off a pipe into the pump house through which the petrol had escaped. Mr. Roger Buckley, defending said the escape was due to human error by two superintendents who had failed . to realise the valve was open. He said the company were alive to the need for safety. A group of Canvey Island residents have organised a protest over the spillage which they said has caused alarm in the area. The group's Press officer Mr.

George Whatley, said: "If something had sparked off all this petrol while it was lying around the island we could have celebrated the New Year with the biggest peace time holecaust

Britain has ever known.

"This incident only serves to emphasise the fears of people living on Canvey that we could suffer a catastrophe far greater than Flixborough. " The secretary of this group, Councillor Mr. Phil Haslem said: "We are unimpressed by the company's protestations about safety. They were warned in 1974 to block off this pipe and did not do so. "This indicates to us their complete lack of interest in the safety of the people of Canvey Island. "

GROW YOUR OWN PETROL from 'WEEKEND' Magazine prize-winner Melvin Calvin believes the answer to the world energy problem could be a petrol-tree plantation in the Sahara. He claims all our needs could be met by the euphorbia lathyrus -a shrub with a sap closely resembling petrol - and that a plantation the size of Arizona could supply all the petrol used in the United States . Unfortunately for Britain, the shrub grows best in countries that are already rich in oil . It thrives in hot, dry soil but wouldn't grow here. Calvin, a scientist from Berkeley, California, says petrol made that way would be slightly more expensive but the supply would neve r run out .

Droplets of crude oil fell on the Hamble and area recently after a fire at Fawley oil refinery. A cloud of the droplets was carried on the wind to the greater River Hamble area, blemishing cars, paintwork , clothes and crops. The droPlets were caused by a fire in a pipe still, a unit which processes crude oil at Fawley. Fawley's own fire unit dealt with the blaze in a matter of minutes, said a spokesman for Esso Petroleum. "But the result was a cloud of crude oil droplets carried across the Hamble area," he explained. Residents complained to the police about the problems the oil was causing. At Netley police station, it was reported that people had phoned to say it was "raining oil". One resident, Mr. Christopher Hutley, of Hounds Corner Hamble said: "Someone came to my house' from Hamble direction this morning and said he drove through what appeared to be a shower of oil.

This was accompanied by a very strong smell of oil. There was oil in my garden, and in the puddles around the house". Another resident complained that his rhubarb had been ruined by the "1 d oth 01 , an ers reported a film of 0"1 f" h d 1 on 1S pon s. a The cloud is believed to have blown s far as Botley and some drivers on the M27 reported oily smears on their windscreens.

Esso Petroleum sent out a technical team to deal with the problem and advised people to wash their with detergents . A spokesman at Bitterne police station said the complaints they had received were concentrated in the Hamble, Bursledon , Lowford , and Hungerford areas . Experts from the Esso Oil Refinery later toured the Hamble and Bursledon "fall out area" with a pledge to pay for any damage caused by the oil storm. As a steady stream of complaints continued to come in, Esso admitted responsibility for the oil cloud and stated that it would compensate residents for any damage. "We caused the problem so we must put it right", commented a spokesman. A team of experts from the refinery set up an incident room at the Solent Motel, Bursldon, to investigate complaints of damage to homes, cars, boats, lines full of washing and crops . The spokesman stated that names and addresses were being noted and it was hoped to send a representative to look at the damage as soon as possible. "We have set up eight garages who " will carry out car cleaning and are trY1ng to get contractors to do other cleaning"". By mid-morning 24 hours after the oil cloud, about 250 calls from residents had been received by Esso. Particularly Pauline Kimish of hard hit was Mrs. Long Lane, whose home was in the process of repainted. Her one year she had planned to sell, in oil. old car which was alsO covered

" " the Among damage was residents surveYlng . Mrs. Maraget WesSon of H property Hungerford, Bursledon. er "sh pond in was effected including her fl which she keeps Japanese carp. . "I off and fort"We drained ·the 01 unately the fish seemed to have come through it unscathed ," she said. use of the An inquiry into the ca o fire has been started by Esso , whhtion w had pledged to pay compens a " . h l C f was expected to be i n t he r eg 10n 0 £50 , 000 .