07-Feb-2012 - South
West Water has been ordered to pay £33,000
in fines and costs for failing to properly
maintain sewage treatment works serving
three small west country communities.
A court heard there
had been a history of failures and non-compliance
at treatment works in Treskinnick near Bude,
Cornwall, Black Dog near Crediton, Devon
and Holcombe Rogus near Wellington, Somerset.
When officers inspected
Treskinnick on May 19, 2011 they noticed
the filter bed wasn’t working. The final
effluent was ‘odorous and black’ and was
polluting a nearby stream. Copious amounts
of sewage fungus were present on the bed
of the stream. A sample of final effluent
indicated the sewage was poorly treated.
The pollution killed
most of the aquatic life in the stream over
a distance of 600 metres. An environmental
survey indicated the pollution also impacted
the Wanson Water further down the catchment.
This larger watercourse flows into Widemouth
Bay, a popular surfing beach, some 2.5 km
from the treatment works.
This latest breach followed problems at
Treskinnick in 2009 and 2010 when the site
failed initial inspections by the Agency.
The treatment works serves a small rural
hamlet of around 30 people.
Black Dog sewage treatment works breached
its consent on three occasions in 2010 and
again in July 2011 when it failed an inspection.
Breaches at the Holcombe Rogus treatment
works occurred between June 2010 and March
2011.
The Environment Agency notified South West
Water of the sub-standard conditions at
all three treatment works resulting from
an apparent lack of maintenance, but insufficient
action was taken to rectify the problems
and improve the level of compliance at each
site.
‘These pollution incidents were avoidable
and resulted from a failure on the part
of South West Water to maintain these sites
in accordance with their Environmental Permits.
Even small sewage treatment works’ require
maintenance and investment and should not
be neglected by site operators,’ said Louise
Weller for the Environment Agency.
South West Water, Peninsula House, Rydon
Lane, Exeter was fined £7,000 for
each sewage treatment works and ordered
to pay £12,000 costs after pleading
guilty to a total of five offences under
the Environmental Permitting Act 2010. The
case was heard by Bodmin magistrates last
Friday (February 3).
+ More
Morpeth scheme given
final funding approval
09-Feb-2012 - A £21
million scheme for Morpeth has received
its final funding approval, Defra and the
Environment Agency have confirmed today.
The Environment
Agency Board agreed the funding for the
scheme and it was formally announced by
Defra this morning.
It is one of 60 flood and coastal risk schemes
which were approved today and will begin
construction in 2012/13.
Work will now continue on drawing up a detailed
design of the scheme which includes a new
flood storage area on the River Wansbeck
on the Mitford Estate. New defences will
also be built at Mitford Road, High Stanners
and around Oldgate Bridge, and a few existing
defences in the town will be raised where
necessary.
In May 2011 the government introduced the
Partnership Funding model to encourage external
contributions so that taxpayers’ money is
spread across more schemes.
Under this model, Northumberland County
Council will contribute up to £12
million towards the scheme and a further
£10.6 million will be funded by government.
Kim Andrew, flood and coastal risk manager
for the North East said: "We are delighted
by the minister’s announcement. Together,
the Environment Agency and Northumberland
County Council aim to reduce the risk of
flooding to more than 1,000 homes and businesses
in the town. The council will contribute
up to £12 million towards the scheme
and a further £10.6 million has now
been secured in government funding. Today’s
announcement is the result of much hard
work by ourselves, the local authority and
the community. It is a fantastic example
of what can be achieved by working in partnership.
“We aim to submit a planning application
for the scheme this summer and to start
work early next year."
Councillor Jeff Reid, Leader of Northumberland
County Council said: “Together, Northumberland
County Council and the Environment Agency
aim to reduce the risk of flooding to more
than 1,000 homes and businesses in Morpeth.
This is a very important scheme for the
community of Morpeth and the council is
pleased that, despite tough economic times,
it has been able to commit funding to ensure
that it goes ahead. We are working in partnership
with the Environment Agency to develop a
detailed design for the scheme.”
The scheme will provide protection from
the River Wansbeck against a flood which
has a 0.73 per cent chance of happening
in any one year, similar in size to the
flood that happened in September 2008.
It will also help to reduce the risk of
flooding from the Cotting Burn, Church Burn
and Postern Burn which has a one per cent
chance of happening in any one year.
Richard Benyon, Minister for the Natural
Environment and Fisheries, said: “The new
flood defence schemes announced today will
bring huge relief to tens of thousands of
households. Our investment will protect
these communities from the devastating effects
of flooding, and allow residents to live
without the fear and worry of their homes
being damaged.
“Small towns like Cockermouth and Morpeth
became household names after the devastation
and distress caused by flooding in recent
years. Today, residents here and in many
towns across the country are reaping the
rewards of the partnership funding model
brought in to enable more flood defence
schemes to go ahead. We now expect to exceed
our goal to protect 145,000 more homes from
flooding by 2015.”
Partnership Funding gives local people greater
choice about what flood protection is provided
in their area.
