Pollution probe on river sewage

A pollution probe is being carried out at the River Severn near Stourport following fears that sewage is seeping into the waterways.

Councillor Nigel Thomas raised the alarm after spotting what he described as "emulsified sewage" on the surface of the river at Stourport bridge.

A keen angler, Councillor Thomas has now demanded action by the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water and said he believed the number of fish in the river had also dropped in the last 18 months because of pollution.

He said he regularly caught dace, roach and chubb on the river but was struggling to catch any fish at the moment.

Councillor Thomas described the effluent as big mounds of white sponge sitting on top of the water from Bewdley to Stourport.

In 2004, parish councillors in Bewdley asked the Environment Agency to investigate whether the river was at risk of being polluted by outdated plumbing at 1930s chalets in Northwood Lane.

But there have been no reported problems since that time. Both the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water said they were not aware of any current pollution problems in the river.

Councillor Thomas said: "Something is definitely not right.

"I have seen this sewage floating on the top of the water for a few days now. It seems to be coming down from the Bewdley area.

"I can't understand where it is coming from. The amount of fish in the river is declining. I can't catch fish like dace and roach any more. It needs to be investigated."

Severn Trent Water spokesman Andrew Marsh said an investigation into Councillor Thomas's concerns would be carried out.