Representation by Derek Langley
- Date submitted
- 22 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am objecting to the new sewage works at Honey Hill, for many reasons. Cambridge has a fully functioning sewage works that doesn’t need replacing and the carbon footprint of building a new sewage works will be very carbon intensive, with the use of lots of cement. Madness in a climate emergency. The taxpayer will pay £227m towards the cost and this will enable the present site to be developed for housing. Anglian Water have not looked into the decontamination of the present site or thoroughly explored keeping the plant where it is and upgrading it as well as making it smell proof. There is a principle chalk aquifer in the area. DEFRA says this aquifer is at high risk from water contamination and yet this project will involve the sinking the deep infrastructure into the area. This is particularly relevant as some residents in Horningsea still draw their water from wells. Fen Ditton and Horningsea are Conservation areas and the new sewage works will have a detrimental effect on the conservation area. This project will involve building on agricultural green belt land, which is contrary to national and local planning policy. I believe that this project will have a negative effect on wildlife and biodiversity, not only in the immediate environs, but also on Quy Fen, an SSSI and Wicken Fen run by the National Trust. The Wicken Fen Vision is planning to return a lot of the surrounding land to wetland, which will affect local biodiversity and help to sequester carbon. The project will also negatively impact public rights of way and permissive ways. Active transport along these routes is an important way to improve people’s health and also reduces carbon emissions. The negative effect of the noise of construction and extra traffic it will generate has to be considered. It the present plant was upgraded, that work would be happening on a brown field site and therefore wouldn’t impact people so much.