Campaigners to gather in Radcliffe over sewage in the River Irwell
The meeting will address sewage spills and investment in river infrastructure.
Campaigners concerned about untreated sewage entering the River Irwell, which flows through Rossendale and Bury, are holding a public meeting in Radcliffe today (29/11)
The event will take place at Radcliffe Market Hall at 2pm and will feature local campaigners, a representative from a water campaign group in the Lake District, and involvement from Bury Trades Council. Councillors and United Utilities have also been invited to attend.
According to campaigners, the Sion Street combined sewer overflow in Radcliffe was responsible for the highest number of sewage spills on the Irwell in 2023. The Irwell and its surrounding catchment area have also been described as England’s ‘worst sewage dumping ground’ by the environmental website Top Of The Poops.
Campaigners argue that insufficient investment in infrastructure to maximise profits for private water companies, and the use of combined sewage overflows during heavy rainfall, are major contributors to pollution in rivers. Combined overflows discharge a mix of rainwater and sewage into rivers to prevent flooding, but these releases can harm wildlife and pose health risks to humans.
This summer, Bury Trades Council’s president, Dan Ross, highlighted the issue by showing a jar of water and bio-beads collected from the River Irwell. The bio-beads are used to filter water contaminants in treatment plants but have reportedly escaped into rivers, according to campaigners.
Bury Trades Council president Dan Ross said: “We had good interest from the public and the media around our first public meeting and intend to build upon that. Water issues are ongoing. Public and political pressure is needed for environmental and water industry changes. Our next meeting in Radcliffe promises another good panel of speakers sharing their knowledge and experience.”
United Utilities has defended its practices, stating it has made significant investments to reduce sewage spills and improve infrastructure in Lancashire and Greater Manchester. These include £6.1m in the River Irwell area, £8.2m for wastewater clean-up on the River Ribble, and a £9m upgrade to the Wilpshire wastewater site. A £77m enhancement project in Burnley also aims to reduce storm overflow and improve the River Calder.
A spokesperson for United Utilities said that between 2020 and 2025, the company invested £400m in enhancements benefiting waterways in the Irwell catchment area. They reported that spill incidents at Radcliffe's Sion Street overflow had decreased to 74 occasions, lasting a combined 844 hours in 2024.
The company also noted a 46 per cent reduction in spill duration and a 32 per cent decline in storm overflows in Greater Manchester, crediting these improvements to new infrastructure such as storage tanks and drainage upgrades.
United Utilities representatives have engaged directly with Bury Trades Council and the Love Springwater Park group to discuss these changes.