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Campaigners urge Labour to block sewage plant plan

PA Media Steve Reed wearing red tie and walkingPA Media
Campaigners opposed to a new Cambridge sewage works have written to Labour Environment Secretary Steve Reed

A campaign group against a plan to create a sewage works near their homes has asked the new Labour government to block the project.

Save Honey Hill objects to Anglian Water's plan to relocate a sewage treatment works in Cambridge.

A campaign group leader has written to Environment Secretary Steve Reed saying the move is opposed by a "broad, informed coalition of local objectors".

Anglian Water says the the new modern plant will be for the community and the environment

'Crime'

Anglian Water wants to build new works on land known as Honey Hill near Horningsea, on the outskirts of Cambridge.

Bosses want to replace the current plant, near Milton, to make way for new homes.

Honey Hill campaigners say the plan would see a "fully-functioning sewage works" moved less than a mile to a site on arable farmland in the Green Belt.

They have described the plan as a "crime against our environment".

LDRS Save Honey Hill poster with bee logoLDRS
Camapagners said the Honey Hill plan is a 'crime against our environment'

The project has been examined by the government's Planning Inspectorate.

Inspectors will make a recommendation but Save Honey Hill says Mr Reed will make the decision.

“Any decision is for you as Secretary of State and must take account of the significantly changed planning and environmental priorities for government that you, the Prime Minister and cabinet colleagues will be adopting," Save Honey Hill chair Margaret Starkie says in a letter to Mr Reed.

“The application is opposed by a broad, informed coalition of local objectors."

'Solution'

In March 2019, £277m was allocated to Anglian Water and Cambridge City Council from the government to fund the project.

Hundreds of objections were made to the application.

But Anglian Water says the new site will be "operationally net zero carbon" and "provide a long-term solution" to the demands of a growing population.

Anglian Water sign
Anglian Water says the new plant will meet the demands of a growing population

The company said: “The scale of the essential infrastructure needed to ensure the long-term resilience of waste water treatment capacity in Greater Cambridge inevitably means impacts will be felt.

“We recognise and are sensitive to the community’s concerns and questions about this.

“The relocation provides an opportunity to develop a modern, forward-looking water recycling facility, using the latest technology and operational practices.

“This means we can continue to serve the growing population of greater Cambridge for years to come, in a more sustainable and resilient way.”

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