FUTURE FOR THE NEW SEWAGE WORKS NOW POINTS TOWARDS WEATHERLEES

Under the planning system 1947, as well as the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Southern Water Services Ltd (SWS) made application to TDC and KCC to extend the sewage works at Margate. A recent Green Paper when implemented gives an access right of non-governmental local community organisations (NGOs) to Planning Committee meetings. Thus, any faults unrecognised in decision taking are able to be revealed and dealt with before and not after consent has been given. A current attempt by Foreness Environmental Action to obtain corrections on the SWS plan is akin to closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. It requires unaffordable judicial review or a public inquiry. Importantly, SWS will be obliged to engage with local communities in advance of submitting applications.

The Bathing Water Quality Directive 1976 reforms will be published in June 2002. Stricter standards on allowable levels of indicator faecal pathogenic microbes from sewage effluent in coastal waters will mean that both the Margate and Ramsgate beaches will be more likely to fail mandatory test levels in future following storm sewage discharge. Even moderate rainfall could result in test failures. This, even if the outdated proposed extension to the Margate works goes-ahead. Moreover, the Weatherlees works will require updating.

The answer is to build stormwater-sewage combined storage tanks so that its contents can be disinfected before discharge in dry weather periods. Margate will have a UV-disinfection unit, but not a storage tank. Ramsgate (Weatherlees) has a storage tank (though small, it will require enlargement) but no disinfection unit. Foreness Point (Margate) cannot accommodate the massive tank required, but there is much space at the remote Weatherlees site. Moreover, installation of chemical decontamination units will be required in the near future (by 2010?) which will occupy even more building space. The sewage sludge treatment unit is centred at Weatherlees (the plan is to lay a pipeline from Margate to transport the sludge).

The reforms also call for improvement in the training regime for planning committee members. Almost invariably, there are individuals in the community better qualified on certain items in planning applications than those on local governmental committees.

It makes planning sense for a safer Thanet therefore to combine the Margate and Weatherlees works into a single worksite, with installation of a modern technical treatment facility. It would provide the best environmental practical option for full-sewage treatment not entailing excessive cost.

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