New Tadcaster sewage plant to help flood hit homes

Yorkshire Water want to build a new pumping station next to the River Wharfe in Newton Kyme, near Tadcaster, which will help protect properties from sewage during future incidents of flooding and heavy weather.

More than a dozen neighbouring properties in the Papyrus Villas area have been consulted about the plans, which were submitted to Selby District Council this week.

A report submitted with the plans said: “The below ground sewage pumping station is required to provide an alternative foul sewerage connection for local properties, because the existing sewer is surcharging and causing the properties to flood in times of heavy rainfall. The proposed weather proof plant enclosures to provide space and shelter for the pump control system, telemetry and power supply.”

In a report released earlier this year by North Yorkshire County Council, the authority said 79 properties were flooded in Tadcaster - south east of Newton Kyme - when the River Wharfe burst its banks on Boxing Day, while five homes in Newton Kyme were also badly affected by rising waters.

The proposed location for the pumping site is on the north side of the Redrow housing development, where the paper mill once stood, south of the Wharfe Bridge.

More than 120 homes were agreed for the Papyrus Villas site in 2014, following decades of plans, along with a number of office units.

However, developers Redrow said in August this year they would scrap the offices in favour of building an extra 11 homes on site.

Included in the plans is a two-and-a-half metre high ventilation stack, which will “allow for air to escape when the pumping station fills”.

There will also be a new below-ground sewage pumping station, to deal with the sewerage flows from the properties connected to it, and the proposed works plant enclosure and equipment on site will be “weather proof” to help prevent overflow in times of excessive rain or heavy weather. A decision is due next month.