Water company negotiating to keep controversial compound in rural South Staffordshire area
A water company which opened a works compound in rural South Staffordshire without the proper planning permission is negotiating with a council to keep it in place.
Severn Trent Water have been operating a 'welfare compound' in a field in rural Great Chatwell close to Weston Under Lizard since February.
Nearby residents have complained to South Staffordshire Council saying their welfare is being compromised.
One of them, David Hayward, who lives close to the site, said the working hours are long and the noise from it is making them ill - he has posted a video of the work going on.
He said: "The site was a by-product of the local Blymhill Sewage Works upgrade and work started in February two months before their planning application for the actual project was formally decided and approved.
"No plans were made for a welfare compound, and this additional site needed a home.
"Despite the offer of a field for the compound from Bradford Estates which would have located it within metres of the sewage works, the company decided to place the two-story portacabin site a mile away down a single-track lane.
"The storage end of the compound is just 18 metres from our property, where once stood an open agricultural field. and the working hours are often 7.15 am to 7:30 pm.
"The stress of noise and dust to us and personally to our dogs, who bark persistently due to the noise, is making us ill.
A South Staffordshire Council spokesperson said a planning enforcement case was opened as soon as they were made aware of Severn Trent opening the compound in question
A statement said: "Detailed negotiations between ourselves and Severn Trent followed, resulting in a retrospective planning application being submitted, which we subsequently validated on June 19.
"While the application is being considered, the enforcement case is currently on hold, awaiting the outcome of the planning application decision.
"Given this is an active application, we are unable to comment further at this time.
"If anyone wishes to monitor the progress of the application, they can do so at www.sstaffs.gov.uk using the planning reference number 25/00519/FUL.
A statement from Severn Trent Water said: "We have had detailed discussions with South Staffordshire Council and as a result have submitted a retrospective planning application that’s currently with the council for consideration.
"We understand that at times construction work can cause an element of disruption, which is why our teams work hard to keep any noise to a minimum and within reasonable hours.
"As the planning application is active, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
