Fears raised over sewage spill at Spingfield housing development in Nairn
Fears have been raised that a recent sewage spill, caused by blocked drains from the latest houses built on Springfield’s Lochloy development in Nairn, could occur again.
Morton Gillespie, who found sewage backing up into his garden at Kingsteps, said the original plan was to pump the sewage uphill from the development of 119 houses to an existing main sewer for Lochloy, in Montgomerie Drive.
But he told a meeting of Nairn River Community Council that once the development started, plans were changed and permission was granted by Scottish Water to link up with a sewer which passes through his garden, serving five houses at Kingsteps, developed about 20 years ago.
“I thought it was only a few houses that were going to be connected to the sewer on my land,” Mr Gillespie said.
“Had I known it was over 100, I would have certainly objected. The question now is: does it have the capacity to take all the sewage from these homes?
“It was reported at the community council there have been other instances of blockages to drains on other parts of the Lochloy development.
“As recently as last month someone had sewage coming back up through their toilet.
“Twenty residents, including myself, met with three Springfield representatives on site and they couldn’t give us any guarantee it wouldn’t happen again.
“They still haven’t established what caused the spillage which is very worrying, not just for myself but for the residents in the Springfield homes.”
The community council heard that after the spillage, Springfield removed the top soil from a large open space which was contaminated and dressed the area with fresh earth and re-seeded it.
The developers are now undertaking work to clean out the new sewer and will check it with cameras.
Community councillors and other objectors tried to block the development, raising concerns about the lack of capacity in the drainage system at Lochloy and drainage problems on the site.
However, the development was passed on a casting vote at a Highland Council South Planning Area Committee meeting.
Mr Gillespie said with the help of the community council, letters had now been sent to the council about the change in the design of the sewer.
“We want to know if they were aware and did they approve it?” he said. “But we are still waiting for a response.”
Community councillor Loreine Thomson told the meeting the original consent in August 2018 stated the waste water pipe would be connected to Montgomerie Drive and a pumping station would be required.
“Building commenced around September 2018 and in August 2019 amended plans to discharge all 119 houses into the 150mm sewer to the five Kingsteps houses were submitted,” she said.
“What is the point of the public and other agencies reading piles of reports and providing comments, when such a basic element is completely changed after consent is given? It’s a complete waste of everyone’s time and indicates the planning management process is not robust.
“Nairn residents are frustrated that concerns about infrastructure and planning management/process are not being addressed and dealt with.”
A Springfield spokesman said following a spillage affecting a home next to its Meadow Lea development, it had launched a thorough investigation to identify the cause so it could be certain it did not happen again.
It included a CCTV survey of the network and an inspection of the pump carried out by a Scottish Water-approved specialist.
The company also wanted to reassure the community that it was taking the issue seriously, had followed all planning and technical requirements and that the appropriate consents were in place.
The spokesman said: “We have made significant progress in relation to our investigation following a spillage at our Meadow Lea development in Nairn.
"The CCTV survey of the network, which included a cleaning of the system, is complete along with an inspection of the pump, which was carried
out by an approved Scottish Water approved specialist.
"A thorough review of the findings is under way and once complete we will take appropriate action.
"We’ve visited Meadow Lea phase three and cannot see any areas with considerable surface water, or any other instances of flooding. As always, if customers notice anything of concern, we encourage them to contact us."
