LIBERAL Democrat leader Ed Davey waded in to the River Frome – and described the number of sewage overflows into the river as a “disgrace”.
Sir Ed, who walked through the water at Frampton Cotterell with Thornbury & Yate MP Claire Young, said Wessex Water “should be ashamed” of the number of spills from combined sewer overflows (CSOs).
He called for the waste water disposal and treatment firm to be turned into Public Benefit Company – a business that is legally required to prioritise the public good over profit.
Sir Ed said: “Almost a quarter of the sewage pollution in the River Frome has been forced upon families and businesses in Frampton Cotterell; it is an absolute disgrace and Wessex Water should be ashamed.
“Our towns and villages are becoming victims of the sewage scandal as their beautiful rivers and coastlines are pumped full of raw sewage by water firms putting profit before people.
“The Conservative government gave water companies a free pass to dump human waste into our precious waterways for far too long. Enough is enough.
“Wessex Water needs to be turned into a Public Benefit Company so they can begin to repair the damage they have caused without raising bills for hard working families.”
4,058 hours of spills between Iron Acton and Winterbourne
Earlier this year the Voice reported Environment Agency figures that showed the river, which flows through the area on its way to Bristol, suffered a total of 4,058 hours of spills from eight CSOs – which automatically discharge combined rainwater run-off and foul waste water from homes washed into waterways during times of heavy rain to mitigate flooding – between Iron Acton and Winterbourne.
Sir Ed said a quarter of all spills into the Frome were from the six CSOs in Frampton Cotterell, where Wessex Water has been working since April on a project to alleviate the problem.
Water company’s response
It is building three huge storage tanks, at Church Road, Nightingale Lane and off Cloisters Road, Watley’s End, to store rainwater during heavy storms and keep it out of the overflows.
A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “We’re aware that our licensed storm overflows in Frampton Cotterell operated frequently in 2023. While it protected local properties from flooding in what was the fourth wettest year since records began, we agree that overflows are outdated, so we are investing £3 million a month to improve them.
“This includes a £5 million project currently underway in Frampton Cotterell to build three large storm water storage tanks, which will increase capacity and reduce how often the nearby overflows will operate.
“The local Liberal Democrat MP Claire Young was briefed about this work taking place earlier this year, and it is on track to be completed in January 2025.”
Top picture: Thornbury & Yate MP Claire Young and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey wading in the River Frome at Frampton Cotterell