New wetland habitat to be created at Lytchett Matravers

A new wetland habitat is to be created at Lytchett Matravers by Wessex Water and a local landowner.

The company say it will help improve water quality in the area and protect and enhance surrounding ecosystems.

It'll cover four hectares of farmland, south of its existing Bulbury Lane pumping station.

Dorset Council has approved the application.

Wessex Water said in the documents:

“The proposed development will significantly improve the ecological status of the downstream waterbodies and reduce the risk of future water quality problems within the catchment. Overall the scheme will deliver significant benefits, in water quality, biodiversity and offer a more sustainable solution than additional chemical dosing at the treatment works.”

They claim storm overflows from the treatment works will be effectively filtered naturally, a solution which has been tried successfully elsewhere:

“The proposed development will significantly improve the ecological status of the downstream waterbodies and reduce the risk of future water quality problems within the catchment and Poole Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest. Overall the scheme will deliver significant benefits, in water quality, biodiversity and offer a more sustainable solution than additional pump storage.”

The company says the local treatment plant takes all the foul flows from Lytchett Matravers and does have a history of spills from the storm overflow.

A temporary treatment plant was recently given permission to be constructed alongside the existing treatment plant to deal with a leak into a ditch after its lining system failed. |newtab)

The wetland will be constructed of several interlocking cells with overflows controlled between them - the first would traps sediment with the overflows filtered by it and other cells until it reaches a wet woodland and the bottom of the site.

Spoil from the digging of the cells will be used to create a wildflower area.

Lytchett Matravers and Upton Town Council raised no objection to the plans, stating:

“This is a very good application which should be supported. It should improve biodiversity in the area and reduce storm overflows contaminating nearby water courses.”

Natural England has also welcomed the project.

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