We’re sure Histon, Impington and Orchard Park residents were very relieved to hear that Anglian Water has not selected the land east of Impington as their proposed site to relocate the Waste Water Treatment Plant from the current site south of Milton. However, there is also sympathy for the residents around the chosen location at Honey Hill Site 3, between Fen Ditton and Horningsea to the north of the A14 who are concerned about the impacts that they may face.
Anglian Water say that there are clear advantages to this site over either of the other possible sites between Impington and Milton. At Honey Hill, their analsysis showed greater opportunities for ecological enhancement, lower lifetime carbon emissions, and the risks of smell impact are lower with far fewer people living downwind. During the consultation, Anglian Water were also informed of the higher number of businesses that would be adversely impacted at sites 1 and 2.
This decision on preferred site follows a huge number of responses to last year’s consultation on the three site options – there were over 5,000 comments, and the responses from Histon and Impington were amongst the most numerous. This was a tremendous effort and we pay tribute to those and also to the Parish Council’s excellent submission. It shows that our voices can be heard.
The move of the works will enable a low-carbon new city district in North East Cambridge, which will meet a large proportion of the local housing need. Anglian Water are promising to build a state-of-the-art, carbon neutral facility, that generates electricity and brings improved wildlife habitats and a net gain in biodiversity. Through our roles as South Cambs District Councillors we will make every effort to ensure that Anglian Water are held to these commitments.
In the summer, Anglian Water will be holding a formal public consultation on the final site selection.
We probably all accept the need for such projects and recognise that they will sometimes impact some communities more than others. As we rightly fought together during the last consultation to protect the best interests of Histon & Impington and Orchard Park now is the time for us to work together more broadly, across all communities and independent of political difference, to ensure that Anglian Water delivers on the commitments which has given to mitigate the impact of this projsct.
In the meantime, Anglian Water will be holding a public community webinar on Thursday 4 February at 7pm. To register, please email info@cwwtpr.com or call 0808 196 1661. Much more information can be found on the project website, http://www.cwwtpr.com, in particular in the Document Library section.
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