Last updated at 16:42, Tuesday, 27 November 2012

ALLOTMENT holders in Ulverston are to be hit with a disruptive double whammy of flood prevention work.

United Utilities has submitted a planning application to build a storage tank at the Ellers allotments to prevent untreated sewage spilling into Town Beck.

The Environment Agency has also announced plans to improve its flood defences in the area, with work expected to begin in February.

Some allotment holders will lose space to the United Utilities scheme but the company has said it will accommodate anyone displaced by the work elsewhere on the site.

Town councillor Colin Pickthall, who sits on the Allotment Committee, said the need for the work to be carried out outweighed the negative impact it would have. He added: “I think generally we are agreed the work is important and needs to be done. Allotment holders will be inconvenienced but United Utilities said anyone who has got to lose a shed will be fully compensated.”

United Utilities’ plans include a storm detention tank, sewer overflow chamber and control kiosk. The planning application states: “The works are required to improve water quality... by reducing the frequency and impact of sewer network storm spills to Town Beck which runs through the Ellers allotments site.

“The works will also indirectly reduce the risk of surface water flooding in the area by retaining sewer storm water flows instead of discharging into Town Beck.

“During periods of heavy flow, for example during storm conditions, the (existing) chamber overflows and diluted untreated effluent is discharged into Town Beck.”

First published at 09:40, Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk