MP keeping an eye on wastewater pipe plan

An MP has said he will monitor plans for a four-mile (6.4km) wastewater pipe "very closely".

Severn Trent Water has proposed building the pipe from Bishop's Castle to the River Onny.

It said the pipe had been designed to transfer water that had been through a "full treatment process" and would not contain untreated sewage.

But many people who live in the area, including South Shropshire MP Stuart Anderson, are concerned and an online petition has received more than 8,000 signatures.

Speaking ahead of a public meeting on Monday, Anderson said he would not support anything that reduced the quality of the bathing water in "exemplary" areas that had Atlantic salmon.

"I know the Environment Agency (EA) has said that is a stipulation, so I am monitoring it very closely," he said.

He said he also wanted to know to what extent the water in the pipe would be treated, and why the pipe was necessary.

The EA has previously said it put the proposal together in consultation with Natural England to support the Clun's designation as a Special Area of Conservation.

Representatives from Severn Trent, the EA, Natural England and Shropshire Council will be speaking at the public meeting, due to be held at the Community College in Bishop's Castle at 19:30 GMT.

Organisers asked people to book in advance because of a high demand for places.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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