Plans for a river water treatment plant at Nenthead have sparked fears among residents of bad smells which may reach as far as Alston.
The Coal Authority says the proposed Caplecleugh mine water treatment scheme project — part of its water and abandoned metal mines programme — aims to tackle water pollution caused by historical metal mining in the area.
It follows on from a project which the Coal Authority and Environment Agency are developing at the Haggs site, on land between Blagill and Nentsberry, which was granted planning permission by Cumbria County Council in June, 2019.
Monitoring by the Environment Agency shows that the River Nent is the second most metal polluted river in England. However, Nenthead residents have voiced some “very serious concerns” about the proposed Caplecleugh scheme, which the coal authority is planning above the village.
Millie Rudd, secretary of Nenthead ward parish meeting, said: “They have worries about the adverse impact on residents of the village, given the proximity of housing and its valley location.
“These include health risks. Hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air, and there is a real risk of concentration of gaseous pollutants being carried downhill into the village.”
Concerns have also been raised about the negative impact it could have on the mental health of residents and the noise and destruction which will be caused to previously quiet open spaces which people at present freely walk on a daily basis.
She told a meeting of Alston Moor Parish Council, held in Nenthead, that the impact on local businesses was another issue which had been raised.
“There are concerns about whether the smell of hydrogen sulfide gas, the disruption of the roads and the loss of popular walking areas will deter visitors from stopping in the village,” said Ms Rudd.
A loss of tourism could be the final straw for some businesses including the village shop, the Hive visitor centre and the bike repair shop which have all struggled to keep afloat in the last couple of years.
She added: “Nenthead is subject to months of snow and ice, with potential power cuts and road closures. How would this extreme weather impact on the maintenance and running of the site?
“What are the safeguards concerning power cuts, flooding and inability to access the site in case of malfunctions?”
Worries have also been raised about the impact on the area’s wildlife and the unique plants — many of which had adapted and become metal tolerant and were helping to naturally restore and heal the area, said Ms Rudd.
Campaigner Alex Sawyer, said “big doubts” had been raised about whether the proposed scheme was actually addressing any form of pollution.
“You could make a very good case that the ecosystem in the Nent Valley is very well adapted already,” said Mr Sawyer.
He said the coal authority was not really trying to remove much of the metal contamination from the river, what they were trying to do was avoid high concentrations when the river was low.
“There is quite a lot of doubt about whether that will actually work. But it won’t address the quantities of material in the river. They are not that bothered about lead, it’s zinc that they say is the big problem,” said Alex.
After the meeting, Mr Sawyer told the Herald that the Coal Authority was using new technology.
“At Force Crag they built an experimental thing which does clean the water, but it’s very smelly,” said Mr Sawyer, who added that it was essentially a “vanity project”.
Zerel Robson, of Nenthead, said: “The smell could follow the river down. It has the potential to affect the residents of Alston that live in close proximity to the river — not only the residents of Nenthead.”
A Coal Authority spokesman said: “We recognise that some residents are concerned about the proposed mine water treatment scheme.
“We hope to be able to address these concerns at the public information event we are holding on May 18.
“It will be held at Nenthead village hall, from 1pm to 8pm, and is open to the whole community. This follows on from other drop-in sessions and several newsletters we have sent to people living in the area.
“If planning permission is granted for the proposed scheme, there will be a huge improvement in water quality in up to 60km of the River Nent and the downstream River South Tyne. The River Nent is the most metal-polluted river in northern England, and the pollution by cadmium, zinc and lead significantly harms aquatic wildlife such as fish and the river flies which underpin the river food chain.
“Most of the sulphide generated by the treatment system binds to the metals we remove and is held within the treatment ponds. However, a small amount of hydrogen sulphide is likely to be created.
“Therefore our treatment system will also include measures to eliminate this before it can cause an odour nuisance. There will be no health risk to the public.”
