Concerns bridleway created under Anglia Water’s sewage works plans will not be permanent

Concerns were raised at a hearing on Anglian Water’s proposed new sewage works that access to a new bridleway would not be made permanent.

The water company wants to build its new waste water treatment centre on a green belt site north of the A14 between Fen Ditton and Horningsea, known as Honey Hill. It will free up the site around its current sewage works for the building of an 8,000-home North East Cambridge district.

Andrew Prior, representing Anglian Water at last week’s hearing in Cambridge, said they recognised Cambridgeshire County Council had “expressed strong preference” for a new bridleway that would be created to be made permanent for the public to use.

However, they said it was intended to be a permissive route for a 30-year period due to the landowner’s concerns about anti-social behaviour.

The examiners questioned why the landowner’s concerns were involved in the consideration of whether the Planning Inspectorate should allow the compulsory acquisition powers.

Mr Prior said Anglia Water wanted to reach an agreement for the land acquisition with the landowner rather than using compulsory acquisition powers.

Mr Hudson said it would be up to the panel to consider how much weight they gave the proposed benefit if the bridleway would be in place for 30 years, rather than being permanent.

Liz Cotton, who lives in the area, said some of the farmers lacked clarity over how many of their growing seasons would be impacted by the sewage works construction.

She said the application said the work could impact one or two seasons, but there was a “big difference” between the two.

Mrs Moss said Anglian Water did not know at this point whether it would be one or two growing seasons, but was “confident” compensation could be given to farmers to address any impact.