Home / Environment / Silt brown waterway sparks housing development pollution fears
Silt brown waterway sparks housing development pollution fears
12 Mar
Summary
- Volunteer group reports repeated waterway discoloration near housing project.
- Developer admits past pollution incident, sacked contractor, halted work.
- Environment Agency investigates potential pollution sources with group.
A village waterway has recently turned a "silty brown colour," prompting concerns among residents that construction of a nearby housing development may be polluting the water. The volunteer group Friends of Silsden Beck has noted similar incidents occurring multiple times since construction commenced on Persimmon's Cobbydale Rise estate.
Persimmon has acknowledged that one of its contractors was previously responsible for river pollution. The company has since dismissed that contractor and halted work at the site for the past two weeks. A spokesperson confirmed they are collaborating with the Environment Agency to investigate potential pollution sources.
Chris Tribe, a member of Friends of Silsden Beck, believes the discoloration is due to run-off discharging into a culvert upstream. He explained that while not chemical pollution, the silt affects aquatic invertebrates, birds, and fish. The group, in partnership with the Aire Rivers Trust, is monitoring the situation and encourages public reporting to the Environment Agency.
