Professor R Malby  

Ilkley Clean River Campaign  30 Nelson Road  

Ilkley  

LS29 8HN

Dear Professor Maltby

 Our Ref: 2019/AM/4308

 Date: 5 September 2019

Ilkley Clean River Campaign - Ashlands Sewage Treatment Works

Thank you for your letter sent by email to our Chief Executive, Sir James Bevan, on 20  August 2019. James has read your letter and asked me to respond on his behalf. He will  also receive a copy of this response. I am sorry that you are disappointed with my letter of  19 August 2019 and that you consider its contents to be inconsistent with James’ comments  when he met you.

I can assure you that the Environment Agency remains committed to securing improvements  to water quality in the River Wharfe at Ilkley. However, we can only drive these  improvements through the established assessment and funding process ensuring Water and  Sewerage Companies (WaSCs) invest in infrastructure effectively and where it is most  needed to achieve environmental improvement. The process is based on a five yearly  investment cycle which, as we have explained previously, means further investigation and  the implementation of any required improvements is likely to take place over a period of  around ten years. We do recognise that this timescale is unacceptable to you which is why  we have also committed to exploring other options with Yorkshire Water Services (YWS) to  secure earlier investment. Any actions outside of the scope of the established funding  mechanism will, however, require YWS’ voluntary support.

Your letter to James asked us to specify which of the options outlined in Martin Christmas’  letter dated 7 June 2019 will be pursued. I can confirm that options 1, 2, 3 and 5 are all  already being pursued. The pursuit of option 4 is dependent upon a successful bathing water  application and so we await the outcome of the application. Option 6 outlines the situation  expected if having pursued all the other options you remain dissatisfied with the situation.  Please refer back to Martin’s original letter for a more detailed description of each option and  the potential outcomes from each.

Your letter to James also asked us to comment on the following issues:-

∙ the deposit of solids on the riverbank;

∙ the application of the Storm Overflows Assessment Framework;

∙ event duration monitoring;

∙ surcharging manholes;

∙ action that can be taken in advance of the River Wharfe being designated as a  bathing water.

I have asked Martin Christmas to write to you separately in response to these detailed  questions.

Lateral, 8 City Walk, Leeds, LS11 9AT Customer services line: 03708 506 506 Email: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk www.environment-agency.gov.uk

I hope that the above is helpful and assures you regarding our ongoing commitment. Your  campaign has undoubtedly increased public awareness of issues regarding water quality,  both locally and nationally, and we thank you for that. We share your goal of improving  water quality in the River Wharfe at Ilkley and we are using the mechanisms and processes  available to us to achieve this as soon as is possible.

Yours sincerely

Oliver Harmar

Area Director - Yorkshire