Shropshire Star 6/10/06

£83,000 for sewage plant repairs

Repair work to Bridgnorth District Council’s crumbling sewage treatment is due to start next month - and residents will be hit with a bill of £83,000 towards the cost.

The council’s decision to repair its sewage works and charge the users for some of the cost has caused a storm of controversy.

There are 17 treatment works across the district which serve 137 former council-owned properties, many of which have been bought by residents.

The property owners pay an annual fee for maintenance of around £150, but the council says the plants now need to be repaired.

In a report to a special meeting of the housing and environment committee, next week, David Parish, director of community services, said the work was essential.

Residents have accused the council of allowing the treatment works to slip into disrepair, but Mr Parish said that was wrong.

“This allegation is unjustified and untrue,” he said. “As with any property asset, there is a need to carry out substantial repair or replacement at the end of its serviceable life.”

The first site to undergo maintenance work will be the Park Close plant at Kinlet, with work planned to start next month.

Mr Parish said work for all 17 plants would cost around £300,000, with residents meeting up to £83,000 of the cost between them.

Bridgnorth mayor, Councillor Iain Seivewright, has written to the council about the situation. He said: “I have expressed my concerns.”

Eleanor Harris, for the district council, said there was no alternative but to charge property owners for the repairs.