Riverbank work to prevent 'catastrophic pollution'

Permission has been given to reinstate a riverbank to prevent a potential "catastrophic pollution event".

United Utilities had carried out the work on the banks of the River Petteril in Carlisle, Cumbria, without permission from Cumberland Council because of the "critical nature" of it.

Now the authority has given a retrospective go-ahead to the project to reinstate the eroded bank, which has exposed about 460ft (140m) of sewer mains pipe, making it vulnerable to damage.

Planning documents said: "If this pipe were to breach this would lead to a catastrophic pollution event of the river in the immediate area and further downstream."

They added the riverbank in the area of Adelaide Street and Melbourne Park, less than a mile from the city centre, had eroded between 7ft (2m) and 16ft (5m) in the past 20 years.

This had been caused by "extreme weather events", as well as river erosion.

A report presented to the council added: "The critical nature of these works, as outlined above, has demanded that work is started in advance of obtaining planning permission."

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