Withy Beds CONR

[KeithM]

Hi All, As I am pretty new on this site, I have been reading a few old topics, something that caught my eye was a post about the Withy beds on CONR and raw sewage, can anyone tell me if this has been resolved? and what are the 'Withy Beds'? The reason this caught my eye was that I work in a local company dealing with sewers.

[Admin]

Hi KeithM

The Withy beds are to be found just off St Marks close, as you go over the bridge it's on your right before you go in to the housing estate. They have been neglected for a long time now but only half of it belongs to the CONR. The wildlife rangers have had a few Himalayan balsam bash events there but it's the small brook that runs through it (Duck Brook) that empties into the river Severn that gets polluted with raw sewage.

The last attempt to stop the sewage was a few years ago when they dug up Bath road, the work went on for months and months but raw sewage still makes its way into the brook and ultimately into the river Severn.

Last time we asked the Worcester City Council to investigate (via the Wildlife Rangers) the environment agency said it may be an illegal plumbing job from a new build. They were going to put dye into every loo along that stretch and watch to see if it come out.

Obviously this would be a very slow job because only one house can be done at a time. However, they haven't even started this part of the elimination process yet and this was well over a year ago. I think it's fallen off their radar and been forgotten about.

Shame really because the Withy beds could be such a nice place to walk through and become another interesting part of the Cherry Orchard Nature Reserve, perhaps turning back into a working Withy bed plantation.

"Willow is planted in withy beds in rows and is cut either once a year or every two years depending on the size needed. At certain times it can grow almost an inch a day. Once planted and established the stool or base is productive for about 20 years. The willow beds depend on being low-lying for their water supply and are prodigiously productive"

If there is anything you can do or say to get this clean up back on track that would be brilliant.

[KeithM]

Hi Admin, thank you for that very informative reply, I would like to try and do something to help, if only writing letters and getting it back on the agenda, I will have a walk around the area tomorrow, something that doesn't ring quite right though is dye down every toilet, you would only need to put the dye into the main manholes (which would be shown on STW drawings) to narrow the search down considerably. Is it ok if I try and move forward with this?   

[Admin]

Sounds like a plan to me  Keith. Good point about putting dye down the main manholes, perhaps starting on the other side of Bath road!

Please do carry on with it and I'm sure the people who walk  their dogs in the Withy beds, and the rest of the community will be willing to back you all the way.

[KeithM]

Thanks very much for that Admin, I will keep everyone posted. Also if anyone has any other ideas where this sewage is coming from, I would be interested to hear.