Representation by Anthony Arnold Wieser
- Date submitted
- 17 July 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I object to the plans to relocate the sewage works to honey hill on the following grounds. The plant was recently upgraded at the current location to provide service until 2050, and now the new plant is proposed to only work for exactly the same amount of time. The existing site will need to be decommissioned and decontaminated before any progress can be made on developing the newly abandoned brownfield site, which has been moved to a new larger greenfield site. This will represent a huge amount of carbon released to get exactly the same benefits we have now from the sewage plant, plus an additional large amount of carbon emitted by the construction of the new district. And despite this, we’re now effectively developing the green belt very near where the new developments on the Marshall’s airfield are being made. Promises have also been made that the effect of any emitted smells will be minimal, however the existing sewage works were upgraded, and the approach to Cambridge smells worse than any other approach to a city that I know of anywhere in England or in Europe. Is there any reason to believe that they will be any more effective with the new plant along the A14? What of the effect of foul smells on the surrounding villages. This will definitely affect the quality of life of my family and everyone in the vicinity if they do not manage to eliminate the smell, and based on past experience, I have my doubts that this will be achieved successfully. Additionally, vehicle movements in the area, particularly on the bridge over the A14 bridge at Fen Ditton will be significantly increased dealing with sludge and pumping lorries every day. Finally, I am concerned of the possible groundwater contamination that may result, particularly if the new towers should leak now that they are being sunk further into the ground. According to DEFRA, it sits above a vulnerable principal chalk aquifer. This entire project is about money, and trying to find a fudge as a way around building on greenbelt. Moving the sewage works to green belt to free brownfield for development is just a shell game, and the people behind this are looking to line their pockets with green themselves. A shameful, wasteful exercise.