United Utilities has confirmed plans for a £9 million  project to boost the water quality in Rostherne Mere have not been put on hold.

Back in October 2016 engineers revised the route of a new sewer pipe to avoid the environmentally sensitive areas of Rostherne Mere.

Jonathan Clarke project manager from United Utilities said:

 “The route amendment will also allow more pipe to be laid in public highway rather than in private land and it’s worth pointing out it will also mitigate the impact on the centre of the village, in particular, the track leading to St Mary’s Church.”

United Utilities received confirmation in January from Cheshire East Council that the revised route does not require an Environmental Impact Assessment.

When complete the project will benefit the water quality in Rostherne Mere, a wetland of international importance and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The project agreed with the Environment Agency will stop the current storm overflows from the wastewater pumping station at Mere Platts, off Mereside Road entering Rosterne Brook and ultimately the Mere.  This will help improve the water quality in the Mere for the benefit of birds and other wildlife.

Jonathan Clarke added:

“The last thing we want is to disrupt the community and it’s for this reason we started speaking with stakeholders back in January 2014 about this project.  Since then we have been taking on board comments raised, which has seen us revise the design and layout of this project on a number of occasions.”

“When we shared plans with our customers on the previous pipeline route they had been very understanding and now that we have made further changes we are going to hold another public exhibition to explain exactly what we’ll be doing.”