Government agency stance over dead horse in Northampton's River Nene...is to let it decompose

The Environment Agency has ruled it will do absolutely nothing about a dead horse in the River Nene and will instead let it decompose.

Northampton residents have been alerting the Environment Agency to the drowned pony that was first spotted in the River Nene last week.

Yesterday (February 10), a Chronicle & Echo photographer was able to locate the body of the horse in close to the Clifford Hill canal lock, close to Billing Aquadrome, so this newspaper could tell the agency exactly where they could find it.

Now, the Government body has responded that it is up to the owner to fetch and the horse out and it plans not to do anything at all.

In fact, their advice is to let the horse decompose.

A spokesperson from the Environment Agency said: “We are aware of the deceased horse in the River Nene at Clifford Hill Weir.

“The responsibility of removing the horse lies with the owner of the horse, no one has come forward at this stage.

“We would only remove the horse if it was causing an obstruction which could pose as a flood risk – this is not the case.

“The horse will naturally decompose without causing pollution in the river.

“Officers will monitor the weir to ensure debris doesn’t build up.”

"It's a disgrace," said a Northampton canal boat owner who first told the Chron about the adrift pony.

"You think they would use their brains. If you own a boat it's bad enough picking people's rubbish out off your propeller. But pieces of a decomposing horse, that is not funny. It's like they can't be bothered.

"Of course no one is going to come forward and claim ownership.

"Can you imagine what the smell will be like in summer? Or what will happen to pets and animals or children who play in the water down river?"

The Chron is contacting environmental and animal charities to try and find a solution.