Home plans spark flooding concern

County councillors fear plans for around 500 homes in Leominster could lead to sewage and flood water emerging from drains and manholes.

Leominster east councillor Jenny Bartlett said the plans for two sites on Barons Cross and Cholstrey road would feed sewage and run off water into the town’s current system.

She asked what would be done to prevent flooding should the proposals go ahead.

“Regarding the works being done in Leominster, there are some 430 to 500 houses being proposed at two sites on Barons Cross and Cholstrey road on the A44,” coun Gemma Davies said at cabinet on behalf of coun Bartlett.

“The proposal is to feed all sewage and most surface water into the current system of pipes in town to flow into the Lugg river and sewage treatment works on the Worcester road on the eastern side of town.

“What assurance can Herefordshire Council, Lugg Valley drainage board, Environment Agency and Welsh Water treatment works give her that these developments will not make the eastern side of town more liable to flood waters coming up through the roads, drains and manholes as they can’t cope now.”

Officers said the plans would go through the regular process.

But coun Felicity Norman said the planning committee could not consider them.

“We’ve been informed that there is not sufficient concern to take it to committee,” she said.