In May last year, I wrote in the Echo that following weeks of behind-the-scenes pressure Severn Trent had given me a ‘cast-iron commitment’ to clean up the River Chelt.
Water bosses promised me they would cut sewage spills in the Chelt by 85% by the end of 2024. It was a bold and ambitious pledge, and some doubted it could be delivered. Today I’m delighted to announce that the target has been exceeded.
Figures shortly to be released from the Environment Agency will confirm that the number of spills from the main overflow pipe in Charlton Kings near Dunkerton’s has been cut from 214 in 2021, to just 19 today on an annualised basis. That’s a drop of over 90%.
What’s more, the target has been beaten over 18 months early.
This is fantastic news, and it’s a victory for so many Cheltonians who joined my campaign to demand action. Thousands of local people wrote to express their support, which was hugely helpful in my many (robust!) discussions with Severn Trent.
So how was this achieved? It is mainly down to the installation of sophisticated sensor technology into our underground infrastructure, which enables preventative action to be taken.
It’s important to slay a few myths too. Storm overflows are nothing new, and have existed in Cheltenham for decades as a way of of stopping loos backing up at times of heavy rain.
Second, the overflow system is not unique to the UK. Similar arrangements are in place across Europe, including in Denmark and Germany.
Be that as it may, I am determined that Severn Trent don’t stop here. That’s why in the coming weeks I will be meeting water chiefs for the unveiling of a brand-new engineering solution to drive spills down further.
Together we’ve delivered enormous progress to fix this longstanding issue. With hard work, we can finish the job.
[Column first published in the Glos Echo]