A new “leaky dam” is set to be installed by the end of the year to help deal with sewage being dumped into rivers. Bolton West MP Chris Green says that this on course to be installed at the Smithills Country Estate at Winter Hill by the end of the year. He says that this will work like a “beavers dam”, holding up water in a storm that would otherwise overwhelm the sewage system around Winter Hill.
Mr Green said: “It should be installed by the end of this year and if it hadn’t been for the general election being called then we would already be looking at site visits. “Projects like these are a really big part of improving our flood defences in the area and really making sure that we prevent sewage discharge.” Sewage dumping in the waterways has been a long running concern (Image: Paul Blinkhorn) Mr Green said that this would dovetail with other projects across the Bolton West area aimed at tackling sewage discharge and flooding.
But this comes with sewage dumping haven proven to be a contentious topic over recent months. In May this year figures from the Rivers Trust showed that in 2023 sewage was dumped into waterways across the Bolton West area, which includes Winter Hill, for 6,100 continuous hours. Conservative Mr Green’s Labour opponent Phil Brickell says this amounts to “systematic dumping with “water bosses not being held to account.
” Mr Brickell said: “That’s why Labour will reform the planning system to ensure we do get the critical infrast.
