Update from Thames Water re Sherborne sewage (NOT!)
You will recall that at the last Windrush Catchment Partnership I raised concerns about the continuing discharge of Sherborne's sewage into the Windrush river system at Bourton Sewage Treatment works without treatment - over 1000 hours so far this year. No Thames Water representative was able to attend.
The Windrush Catchment Partnership subsequently received a pdf presentation that frankly doesn't answer the questions. If you'd like to see a copy I'm happy to forward it to individuals. Let me know if you'd like a copy. I'll continue to chase through the Windrush Catchment Partnership. And I'll also be submitting a query to the Environment Agency.
Here's what you might call a strategic overview:
1. Thames Water clearly state the following: "We expect the Bourton on the Water sewage treatment works will meet all government targets for storm overflows by 2045 to 2050". That sounds like a very specific statement. I'm afraid it's not.
- In 2024, Thames Water stated clearly that "We expect the Bourton on the Water sewage treatment works will meet all government targets for storm overflows by 2035 to 2040. " So the target date has slipped by ten years with no explanation. As easy as a slip of a pen!
- Perhaps more importantly, if you examine the documents which Thames Water have published for the Bourton on the Water sewage treatment works, there are no plans and no planned budget to address any such requirement. So the phrase "We expect' is doing a lot of heavy lifting in their statements. Imagine a hand being waved airily.
It's all pretty depressing. I wonder if there is any other industry sector in the world where a 24-year target 'expectation' to meet a pollution requirement is acceptable. I don't believe it is acceptable for us here in Sherborne. We pay for our sewage to be treated, not dumped back into the Windrush. I'll continue to chase.
Anyway, to cheer you up, here's a picture of a wildflower meadow alongside our wonderful Sherborne Brook.
And following on from last week's spotting of swallows, (a very early pair of swallows spotted by Rosi last week), Serena reports that more swallows have arrived and now appear to be resident for the year. Whoop! Keep your eyes out for House Martins any minute now.