Wessex Water installing holding tank

Wessex Water are making progress with installing the holding tank to the south of the Badminton Road viaduct, which the planning committee approved earlier this year. The tank is intended to stop sewage flooding in houses in Vicarage Road. It is not related to Barratt Homes' proposals for Woodlands Farm.

Reducing sewage spills in the Frome Valley

After more than 15 years campaigning, Dave Hockey is delighted that Wessex Water are at last installing a very large screening system which hopefully will  eliminate the solid sewage waste discharged into the River Frome following heavy rainfall.


The major scheme at Cog Mill, Iron Acton is well under way. Wessex Water state that work should be completed on site by August when the Frome Valley Walkway will be reinstated along the riverside.


Dave Hockey said, “After years of suffering from sanitary towels, condoms and other sewage waste left stranded on the Glebe Land and along the banks of the River Frome after floodwaters have subsided, I hope that this second scheme is more effective than the first – we’ll watch the results with great interest.”

Plans for chemical dosing kiosk at Kidney Hill

Claire Young with the temporary dosing tank

Wessex Water has applied for planning permission for a permanent chemical dosing kiosk at Kidney Hill. This will replace the temporary solution that was put in place at the end of 2010 to stop bad odours in the vicinity of Broad Lane caused by sewage in the rising main. You can view the plans and make comments on the South Glos website.

Box Hedge Farm and Wessex Water applications approved

Yesterday the planning committee approved applications for outdoor activities at Box Hedge Farm and a Wessex Water sewage holding tank in a Badminton Road layby.

Westerleigh Councillor Claire Young reminded the committee of residents' concerns about noise and dust, highway safety and safety issues associated with the activities proposed in the Box Hedge Farm application. The committee had a lengthy debate on highways issues and some members were concerned that there still wasn't sufficient information about the passing spaces. However Pat Hockey's motion to defer the application again, so that the information could be provided, was defeated 8-3 with two abstentions and a motion to approve the application was then passed with the votes reversed.

The Wessex Water application had been deferred from the last meeting so that the committee could visit the site. After their visit, they asked for landscaping plans and last week Wessex submitted new plans and a photo montage in which the verge was restored to a gentle slope, as it is now, rather than a sudden drop and then a flat area. Claire explained that residents were happy with the revised scheme but officers were concerned that the plans did not show what was being described. The committee approved the application with a revised landscaping condition which should allow Wessex to landscape the site as the residents wish. The scheme is intended to stop sewage flooding in houses in Vicarage Road.

Planning applications return to committee

The applications for outdoor activities at Box Hedge Farm and a Wessex Water sewage holding tank in a Badminton Road layby are both on the agenda for the Development Control (West) planning committee on Thursday 5th January. In both cases, the committee deferred the applications so more information could be supplied.

You can view the agenda and the officer reports online.