A major fuel leak at a petrol station in Bramley, Surrey, is still being cleaned up more than three years after it was discovered.
Over 2,000 litres of petrol are believed to have leaked from the Asda Express site in the village. While the breach was confirmed and remediation works began in May 2024, reports of contamination stretch back as far as 2021.
Part of the treatment for the leak involved boreholes being dug around the village, with pumps siphoning off petrol that was floating on top of water. A technique called ‘soil vapour evaporation’ was also used to vacuum out contaminated underground air.
Now, floating fuel is no longer detectable in the boreholes, according to an update shared by local MP Jeremy Hunt. Underground petrol vapours have also “significantly reduced”.
The clean-up operation can now enter its next phase, which is set to begin in autumn this year. Hydrocarbon-reducing compounds will be injected into the ground in targeted areas, breaking remaining petrol down into its constituent parts, which will dissolve naturally over time.
The leak saw Thames Water issue 600 homes with ‘do not drink’ notices for around two months in 2024. Asda, which bought the site from Co-op in 2022, paid Bramley village £512,000 in compensation. The forecourt itself reopened in August 2024, though equipment related to the clean-up remained on site until July 2026.
