Some Sherborne notices and the Sewage problem.
Subscribers to these emails may recall that three months ago, through our membership of the Windrush Catchment Partnership, I attempted to engage with Thames Water after monitoring the sewage outflows from the Bourton in the Water Sewage Treatment Works. You'll recall that the sewage from Sherborne is pumped over the hill to Bourton in the Water, and the sewage treatment plant there has had, over the years, a significant capacity problem and also water infiltration during heavy rain.
During the period January, February, March, the sewage treatment works discharged for over 1,000 hours untreated or not sufficiently treated sewage into the River Windrush. We don't know the volumes or the concentrations.That's a lot, especially considering Thames Water have undertaken significant work on the sewage treatment works. Many of you will have seen the recent Dirty Water TV show focused on Thames Water's management of the sewage.
At the last Windrush Catchment Partnership meeting, I provided some questions in advance to Thames Water, and they then failed to send a representative. I was looking forward to a representative attending the meeting scheduled for tomorrow, and I've just been told that, again, Thames Water will not be sending a representative to the meeting. This is very disappointing. One might infer they are avoiding the issue, but to be honest, we don't know.
Anyway. I have written a detailed set of questions directly to Thames Water, and we'll see what reply they provide us. I'll let you know in due course. A number of you expressed your support for our challenge to Thames Water three months ago, and I'm sorry that we haven't yet had the answers. At the end of the day, we pay for our sewage to be taken away and treated, and it appeared that for a thousand hours earlier on this year, this simply wasn't happening and Thames Water weren't keeping their part of the bargain. They have community liaison staff and I will be chasing hard for them to answer our detailed technical questions on the performance of the STW. I don't want to clog up this email with the details but a copy of my letter to Thames Water is available at this link.
Two Notices:
- The Sherborne Archives are hosting a village history walk on Friday. If wasn't on crutches I'd be there too as I think this will be very interesting.
- On Saturday is the Windrush Valley Flower Show and Fete. This annual event raises money for Sherborne (the biggest recipient), Windrush and the Barringtons. It deserves our wholehearted support. Plus this year there will be Spitfire, Hurricane and Dakota fly-past.
