Environment Agency hauls dumped cars from the River Thames
24 June 2009
The Environment Agency and Thames Valley Police removed a 1950’s Austen and a stolen black BMW 7 series from the River Thames using a hydraulic winch on Wednesday, 24 June 2009.
The black BMW was stolen and intentionally dumped in the river and the 1950’s vehicle has been on the river bed for the last 50 years and could be something of an historic find.
The recently dumped black BMW has been a navigational hazard and could have potentially increased flood risk to the local area. Four officers from the Environment Agency and four divers from Thames Valley Police’s Dive Unit used a hydraulic winch and lifting straps to hoist the cars from the river.
In the first stage of the operation police divers descended to the river bed and inserted air balloons into the vehicles to float them to the surface. Once afloat the vehicles were secured and raised from the river.
Al Wells, an Environment Agency operations delivery team leader, said: “Pangbourne is an area of outstanding natural beauty and the River Thames is a resource to be treasured, not defiled like this. Dumped vehicles are not only unpleasant to look at, but a potential hazard to people boating in the area and flood risk.
“We are very pleased to be working with Thames Valley Police Dive Unit to bring this stretch of the river back to its former glory.”
Environment Agency officers have removed a number of vans, cars and motorcycles from rivers in the past.