Water company fined after sewage spilled into beck

A member of the public alerted authorities to the pollution of Whitecliffe Beck, in Loftus, east Cleveland, which was found discoloured with a pungent smell of sewage.

Officers from the Environment Agency were called to the scene last March to investigate the beck, which runs through a wood at the rear of Harry Dack Infant School.

It was found that a manhole in the bed of the beck had collapsed and the sewer was discharging straight into the water.

Officers were again called in July last year, after reports of the beck being "black and smelly".

On this occasion, the sewer, which runs in part alongside the beck as well as under the riverbed, had become blocked.

The waste had built up and was escaping into the water through a manhole cover at the side of the beck.

During the hearing on Thursday, the water company said the stretch of sewer was part of a Victorian system.

Due to regular problems, staff frequently inspected it but, despite this, waste had got into the beck.

A feasibility study is being carried out to find a more permanent solution.

Following the court case, environment officer Andy Dobson said: "Essentially, these problems are linked to the inappropriate design of the sewage system, but the people of this area deserve better.

"Having sewage flowing through a beck is not acceptable in the 21st Century, and I'm glad the court has taken this issue seriously."

Northumbrian Water pleaded guilty to two charges of polluting controlled waters with sewage.

The company was fined £2,000 for the incident in July and £500 for the earlier offence in March last year.

It was also ordered to pay £1,800 costs to the Environment Agency, which brought the case.

A spokesman for Northumbrian Water said last night: "This is an old sewer and to show our commitment, we have spent over £8m on a sewage treatment works in Skinningrove.

"This beck is one of our major concerns and a feasibility report will help with improvements."