Concern over Kippford £20m water works plan

The coastal village of Kippford makes for a picturesque spot in the late winter sunshine.

It is quiet now, but in the summer months the so-called Solway Riviera bustles with visitors.

The water looks lovely - if chilly - on the Urr estuary but efforts to keep it clean are causing concerns.

A new £20m treatment plant is proposed to help protect bathing waters downstream at Rockcliffe but the impact it could have on the area has alarmed some residents.

Mike Riding has lived in Kippford for about a decade and is right next to the spot where Scottish Water wants to build its new treatment works.

"The site that's been selected for the water treatment works is surprising," he said.

"It's in an exposed and a prominent position in a national scenic area.

"It's on the edge of Kippford, which is one of the busiest tourist centres in south-west Scotland.

"It is very close to houses and a lot of pedestrians coming from the holiday camps will walk right past the treatment works."

He said Scottish Water had "made some efforts" to put elements of the project underground but a lot of it would still be visible.

"Although attempts have been made to hide some of the equipment, most of the classic sewage works equipment is still there to be seen," he said.

"It's going to look like a sewage works, it's going to sound like a sewage works and it's going to smell like a sewage works."

He said he was worried the screening proposed was "well below the minimum standard" and the disturbance during construction was likely to last about two-and-a-half years.

Sam Sample, who chairs community group the Kippford Association, said she was also concerned about how long it would take to build.

"The main issue, to start with, will be the prolonged period of activity in the village," she said.

"The disturbance for local residents in the immediate vicinity of the new plant is going to be substantial and very upsetting and disturbing."

She said she was also worried about plans for a new pumping station where the current water works are located.

"You have a lot of holiday homes in the village," she said. "It's going to compromise folk's ability to let out property.

"The impact on the pubs and tea room in the village - it's unquantifiable at this point - but because of the long period of time, I think it could be substantial and damaging.

"It's not great business through the winter here and every day that they're out of business, or business is compromised, could be damaging in the long-term for them."

She said she hoped Scottish Water would listen and work with locals to address such concerns.

The association is also worried about the impact of plans to move a nearby power line on land it owns opposite the plant.

Scottish Water said that without the works the bathing water at Rockcliffe could end up being declassified.

Prior to temporary treatment equipment being put in, it was repeatedly classed as poor.

The company said it has been working with the community for four years and had tried to take on board their concerns and would continue to do so with another meeting planned in January.

A spokesman added: "We have made substantive changes to the location and design of the works, including burying the treatment infrastructure to accommodate the feedback we have received.

"We have worked hard to design a project which is sensitive to the needs of the local area."

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