Latest news with #MillBayHomes
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents raise concerns over serious risk creeping into iconic beach waters: 'Getting more and more frequent'
A proposed seaside housing development in Wales has residents worried that already questionable sewage infrastructure will spring new leaks, further contaminating the area's precious St. Bride's Bay, local rivers, and even the ocean, according to reports from the BBC and Pembrokeshire Herald. Mill Bay Homes, a company that has developed more than 300 properties in southwest Wales since 2013, intends to add 76 more homes overlooking the resort near Marine Parade in Broad Haven, Pembrokeshire, according to the news outlets. About 34% of the new dwellings and apartments would be classified as affordable housing, according to the reports. It's a need, as the World Economic Forum reported that about 1.6 billion people around the planet lack an adequate place to live. But recreationists are worried about sewage lines that already have documented leaks draining even more into their favorite swimming holes as a result of the development. "Swimming is very popular, but there is quite often a problem with sewage, especially when the weather's been bad," Kate Freeman told the BBC. "There needs to be more houses for people, but the sewage treatment infrastructure needs to improve before that happens." BBC reported that sewage discharged for nearly 602 hours in 2023, with 47 spills. Foul water also oozed from Broad Haven South Beach "for a total of 53 hours in 2023, with 21 separate spills recorded." The data was from the utility company Welsh Water. As a result, local environmental consultant Andy Drumm has written to local officials with concerns about more homes. "In recent years there has been quite a lot of additional housing development in the village, but the sewage treatment works has not kept up," he said in BBC's story. "We're getting more and more frequent dumps and leaks of raw sewage into the stream that flows onto the beach here. Any increase in housing has to be accompanied by an increase in sewage treatment capacity." Sewage leaks can be a disaster for waterways. Nonprofit American Rivers said that untreated waste has salmonella, hepatitis, dysentery, cryptosporidium, and other diseases — all of which are not conducive to an enjoyable swim. Do you worry about the quality of the air inside your home? Yes — often Yes — but only sometimes Only when it's bad outside No — I never do Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. And American rivers are not immune to pollution. Water watchdogs are concerned about microplastic contamination in the Great Lakes. The tiny particles are being studied for human health concerns, including how they impact our organs, according to Health Policy Watch. For Mill Bay's part, the company told the BBC that plans would be made "'to mitigate any additional pressures' on the existing sewage system and that they would 'fully fund improvement works to the sewage infrastructure.'" Residents can make sure developers in Wales and elsewhere hold true to their promises by staying educated on the topic, spotlighting so-called greenwashing. That's primarily when a company makes impressive planet-friendly plans but seldom lives up to them because it never intended to, or it inflates the importance or impact of a change to obscure polluting acts it continues to carry out. American Rivers can help you focus your efforts on advocacy as well as other ways to help waterways stateside. Simple actions like collecting water in a rain barrel can save town water and cut your bill. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New homes spark beach sewage spill fears
Plans to build 76 new homes overlooking a seaside resort could make pollution problems worse, say opponents. Mill Bay Homes want to build apartments and houses near Marine Parade in Broad Haven, Pembrokeshire including some affordable housing. Swimmers claim sewage spills in to local rivers and the sea often prevents them from swimming in St Brides Bay. Mill Bay Homes said they were committed to protecting the environment and would fund improvements to sewage infrastructure. Welsh Water said there was sufficient capacity to accommodate the development. 'My children won't know the rivers I grew up with' Student 'caught E. coli after sea sewage spill' Swimmer Kate Freeman raised concerned about the impact of pollution on water quality. "Swimming is very popular, but there is quite often a problem with sewage, especially when the weather's been bad," she said. "There needs to be more houses for people but the sewage treatment infrastructure needs to improve before that happens." Kate Evans also swims in St Brides Bay and says improvements are needed. "We need houses for people but it comes down to the water companies taking responsibility. It's illogical, if it's already not working, to build more on top," she added. The latest data available from Welsh Water shows the nearby sewage treatment works discharged sewage for almost 602 hours in 2023, with a total of 47 spills. Sewage was also discharged from Broad Haven South beach for a total of 53 hours in 2023, with 21 separate spills recorded. Environmental consultant Andy Drumm, who lives in Broad Haven, has written to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to express concerns about the plans. He said: "In recent years there has been quite a lot of additional housing development in the village but the sewage treatment works has not kept up. "We're getting more and more frequent dumps and leaks of raw sewage into the stream that flows onto the beach here. Any increase in housing has to be accompanied by an increase in sewage treatment capacity." Mill Bay Homes said measures would be "put in place to mitigate any additional pressures" on the existing sewage system and that they would "fully fund improvement works to the sewage infrastructure". Mr Drumm also raised concerns about plans to capture rain water run-off from the new housing development in an "attenuation pond" near a community nature reserve called the Slash Pond. He said: "It is an oasis of woodland and water and is a critically important habitat for wildlife. "They want to clear scrub woodland and install an attenuation pond to receive all the run-off from the housing estate, and drain it into the Slash Pond. There have been no studies carried out on the aquatic impact that will result from this." Mill Bay Homes said the water collected in the attenuation pond would be "naturally filtered" and "reduce the risk of future flooding". A pre-application consultation on the plans has been held by Asbri Planning on behalf of Mill Bay Homes. A formal planning application will be submitted to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. The authority wants around 34% of the homes to affordable. Local councillor Nick Neumann said he was "really supportive" of more affordable housing for local people but added it was important there were "no adverse effects on existing communities, landscape and environment". "I would urge Dwr Cymru [Welsh Water] to really double down on this and invest more," he said Welsh Water said it had not yet been "formally consulted" on the plans but had offered "pre planning advice" to the agents for Mill Bay Homes. The company said a "hydraulic modelling assessment" was required but there was "sufficient capacity" at the local waste water treatment works "to accommodate the foul flows" from the development. Welsh Water bills to rise annually for five years Swimmers frightened to go in the sea due to sewage Public inquiry into 'stink bomb' tip demanded
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New homes spark beach sewage spill fears
Plans to build 76 new homes overlooking a seaside resort could make pollution problems worse, say opponents. Mill Bay Homes want to build apartments and houses near Marine Parade in Broad Haven, Pembrokeshire including some affordable housing. Swimmers claim sewage spills in to local rivers and the sea often prevents them from swimming in St Brides Bay. Mill Bay Homes said they were committed to protecting the environment and would fund improvements to sewage infrastructure. 'My children won't know the rivers I grew up with' Student 'caught E. coli after sea sewage spill' Swimmer Kate Freeman raised concerned about the impact of pollution on water quality. "Swimming is very popular, but there is quite often a problem with sewage, especially when the weather's been bad," she said. "There needs to be more houses for people but the sewage treatment infrastructure needs to improve before that happens." Kate Evans also swims in St Brides Bay and says improvements are needed. "We need houses for people but it comes down to the water companies taking responsibility. It's illogical, if it's already not working, to build more on top," she added. The latest data available from Welsh Water shows the nearby sewage treatment works discharged sewage for almost 602 hours in 2023, with a total of 47 spills. Sewage was also discharged from Broad Haven South beach for a total of 53 hours in 2023, with 21 separate spills recorded. Environmental consultant Andy Drumm, who lives in Broad Haven, has written to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to express concerns about the plans. He said: "In recent years there has been quite a lot of additional housing development in the village but the sewage treatment works has not kept up. "We're getting more and more frequent dumps and leaks of raw sewage into the stream that flows onto the beach here. Any increase in housing has to be accompanied by an increase in sewage treatment capacity." Mill Bay Homes said measures would be "put in place to mitigate any additional pressures" on the existing sewage system and that they would "fully fund improvement works to the sewage infrastructure". Mr Drumm also raised concerns about plans to capture rain water run-off from the new housing development in an "attenuation pond" near a community nature reserve called the Slash Pond. He said: "It is an oasis of woodland and water and is a critically important habitat for wildlife. "They want to clear scrub woodland and install an attenuation pond to receive all the run-off from the housing estate, and drain it into the Slash Pond. There have been no studies carried out on the aquatic impact that will result from this." Mill Bay Homes said the water collected in the attenuation pond would be "naturally filtered" and "reduce the risk of future flooding". A pre-application consultation on the plans has been held by Asbri Planning on behalf of Mill Bay Homes. A formal planning application will be submitted to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. The authority wants around 34% of the homes to affordable. Local councillor Nick Neumann said he was "really supportive" of more affordable housing for local people but added it was important there were "no adverse effects on existing communities, landscape and environment". "I would urge Dwr Cymru [Welsh Water] to really double down on this and invest more," he said Welsh Water said it had not yet been "formally consulted" on the plans but had offered "pre planning advice" to the agents for Mill Bay Homes. The company said a "hydraulic modelling assessment" was required but there was "sufficient capacity" at the local waste water treatment works "to accommodate the foul flows" from the development. Welsh Water bills to rise annually for five years Swimmers frightened to go in the sea due to sewage Public inquiry into 'stink bomb' tip demanded
