Salisbury River Park works to be delayed due to "unacceptable" sewage leak
The leak contaminated a section of the River Avon currently blocked off for project works
Last updated 2nd Nov 2022
The construction of Salisbury River Park has been hit with a setback after sewage leaked into the River Avon due to a burst, blocked sewer.
Work is underway to clear the sewage after a blocked sewer burst under the Castle Street railway bridge and leaked into a section of the River Avon.
The river section is currently blocked off for project works, meaning most of the sewage was contained within the site, Wiltshire Council has confirmed.
Quality water samples are being taken while staff work to clear the pollution.
Cabinet Member for Waste and Flooding at Wiltshire Council, Councillor Dr Mark McClelland, says it means the project will be delayed:
“We are both disgusted and horrified at the sewage contamination that happened this weekend at the Salisbury River Park site.
“This part of the river is currently blocked off due to the project works, and because of this we are fortunate that the majority of the contamination has been contained within the site.
“Wessex Water and Environment Agency teams are currently on site to monitor the water quality and to arrange for the immediate clearance of the contaminated sewage.
“Unfortunately, this setback will cause a delay to the Salisbury River Park project delivery."
Salisbury MP John Glen said he was "extremely disappointed" about the sewage leaked and urged Wessex Water and the Environment Agency to act quickly.
Councillor McClelland says the council teams are working with the Environment Agency and Wessex Water to ensure such a leakage does not happen again, describing the smell on site as "unacceptable".
“Wessex Water has advised us that this was caused due to a blocked sewer under the Castle Street railway bridge, which has then drained into the river through the highway drainage system.
"While we welcome this explanation, it is not acceptable to allow sewage to spill into this city centre river that is a key part of the Salisbury River Park project."
“The smell and the visual impact of this contamination are unacceptable, and we will be working closely with River Park partners, including the Environment Agency and Defra, plus of course Wessex Water, to ensure it does not happen again under any circumstances."