‘Plans to dump Olympic-sized swimming pool of wastewater every day into Whitnash Brook are outrageous’ say campaigners

Bellway Homes has applied to the Environment Agency (EA) to use the brook to discharge 2,642 cubic metres of effluent per day, under the term of trade site drainage, from its nearby housing development site.

Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western has been campaigning against the development as far back as when he was a local councillor for the area from 2013 to 2018 and in response to this latest application has said: “We’ve long known it is a deeply flawed development, and this is the latest iteration of that”.

He said: “We’re talking about the equivalent of an Olympic [sized] swimming pool of wastewater being dumped every day into Whitnash Brook.

“It is shocking and residents are rightly outraged.”

The initial deadline set for residents to contact the EA with their objections to Bellway’s application was March 2.

But Cllr Will Roberts (Green, Leamington Willes) has today (Friday, March 6) contacted The Courier to say that the EA has now extended the deadline to Thursday March 19.

He said: “I was shocked to hear that Bellway Homes were applying to discharge 2,462 cubic metres of 'trade site drainage' per day into the Whitnash Brook just above the nature reserve in Sydenham.

"We must protect our disappearing wildlife, and this could have a really serious environmental impact on this beautiful stream in south Leamington.

"I want to thank the Warwickshire Solihull and Coventry Local Access Forum for highlighting it to myself and to Mr Western.

"Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, which manages the area, also hadn't even been informed and have now put an objection in.

"I felt it was important that local residents voices were heard, so I contacted the Environment Agency to ask for an extension to the March 2 deadline which it has agreed to.

"It's not too late to contact them if you want to express your opinion."

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has also objected to the application.

A spokesman for the trust said: “Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is extremely concerned regarding the Bellway Homes’ environmental permit application.

"This is considered a significant amount that would impact the sensitive ecosystem and important designated Nature Reserve as well as the wider wildlife corridor.

"The site is just above the designated Nature Reserve.

"The effluent would flow directly info the Whitnash Brook, affecting the important and protected species known to occupy the brook and would affect the sensitive eco-system of the brook.

They added: “Whitnash Brook reserve is a 2km wildlife corridor with pond, marshy grassland and woodland.

"The reserve is noted for its invertebrates found in decaying wood within the brook.

"The site is a valuable wider wildlife corridor.

“The pools support a significant variety of wetland plants such as brooklime and lesser water-parsnip, and support a significant amount of dragonflies in the summer months.

“The shaded stream supports mature alder and willow, some of which have been pollarded.

“Fallen trees provide a wealth of niches for protected species and small mammals and invertebrates.

"We hope that this is all considered in the Environment Agency’s final decision.”

To comment on the application email [email protected] or call 03708 506 506.

We have approached Bellway for a comment.