Sewage pipe campaign group to hold meetings

A campaign group opposing a planned wastewater pipeline is due to meet the Environment Agency and other stakeholders, to talk about its concerns.

The four-mile (6.4km) pipe is intended to carry treated sewage across Shropshire from Bishop's Castle to the River Onny.

Currently, it flows into the River Kemp, a tributary of the Clun, and Severn Trent Water, which is behind the proposal, has urged people not to worry.

An online petition "to stop the pipe" has reached nearly 8,000 signatures, with locals and environmentalists worried about the impact on the river.

The Onny is home to various wildlife, including otters, kingfishers and dippers.

It also contains a strong population of brown trout and grayling, as well as being an important habitat for Atlantic salmon.

John Wood, from the Onny Preservation Group, said the justification for the pipeline was "muddled and extremely weak" and should not be given the go-ahead by the Environment Agency and Natural England.

His group is due to meet with the Environment Agency on Monday and other interested groups on Tuesday.

But Severn Trent has told people "not to jump to conclusions" and said it is working closely with the Environment Agency and Natural England to make sure the pipeline has no negative impact on the area.

It said it was also "very keen" to meet the Onny Preservation Group.

The Environment Agency said it would require Severn Trent to carry out a thorough environmental assessment and would then consider the findings.

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