Sewage Update: Cornwallis Circle Plans

Southern Water ran a public consultation exercise yesterday on plans to re-landscape Cornwallis Circle and bury an underground storage tank which will hold storm water and prevent the existing sewage system reaching capacity during storm events. When the sewage system reaches capacity rainwater and raw sewage from homes is released through Combined Sewage Overflows(CSO’s) on our coast.

The most recent version of the plans are shown below and include a series of shallow undulating swales which will collect surface water from the road. The swales will sit behind the existing wooden barriers, be planted with polinating plants and be supplemented by additional trees around the edge of the park.

“The first consultation exercise in March clearly didn’t work” said Cllr Chris Cornell “but yesterday’s session was really positive and most residents liked the designs presented.” Southern Water are listening and have promised to run another roadshow to present residents with the final design before Christmas. The work will take 6 weeks to complete starting from next February.

Notable comments from residents included that :

1.  The number, location and species chosen for tree planting need to be clearer. Residents immediately in the circle could like to see fewer trees to retain sight lines. Trees historically planted on the green haven’t always taken.
2. Anti social behaviour in the circle meant we needed to design our vandalism. The rocks at the base of the swales may be removed.
3. The park needed to remain open during the 6 weeks worth of work. Southern Water will go back to see if they can reduce the area that needs fencing off during the build (seen on the map as a grey dotted line). All parties agree that a large open grassed area for kids to play on needs to be maintained in the middle.

Charlotte Cornell, Cabinet Member for Open Spaces, said “Since May, the new council has been pushing Southern Water to expedite a number of the projects promised in order to reduce sewage outflows. We need action not empty promises and residents expect us to be trying to do something, even if the scale of investment needed to fix the overall problem is something which only national legislation can create”

With this in mind, a consultation on the planned green wall and rain gardens for Whitstable Library will now take place in early October and officers are drawing up plans to increase the drainage in Westmeads Rec which would both help reduce sewage but also see the football fields reintroduced for local residents. Southern Water have recently employed two new engineers into the Whitstable Pathfinder team and are now also designing plans for Cromwell Road and Salt Marsh Lane.

You can feed your comments into Southern Water by emailing [email protected]