My local newspaper, the Evening Express, led with news of an oil slick – maybe not so surprising in this oil rich part of Scotland. However, a three mile oil slick coursing down the river Don is unusual. Apparently, helicopter pilots coming into Dyce airport reported seeing the oil slick on the lower Don. SEPA officials have said the oil is coming from a company in Pitmedden Industrial Estate.

I lived in Dyce for many years so I know that stretch of river well. I also know the burn which links Pitmedden Industrial Estate to the Don fairly well. This is not the first time significant amounts of oil have reached flowed down that burn to the river from that estate – it is the first time a pollution incident like this has made the cover of our local paper.

The fact is this burn has been badly polluted by companies in that Industrial Estate and at Aberdeen Airport for many years. So heavily polluted that on one memorable occasion local youths (at least I believe it was youths) set the burn on fire – more exactly they set fire to several inches of oil floating on the surface of the stream. Since it runs close to the Airport Fire Station the blaze was dealt with quickly.