£11 million plan unveiled to upgrade Coventry sewage plant

Severn Trent Water have unveiled an £11 million plan to upgrade a sewage treatment plant in Coventry.

Finham Sewage Treatment Works is set to get a major revamp after its owner, Severn Trent Water, signed off a multi-million pound project which could get underway as soon as March 2013 if the plans are approved by Coventry City Council.

The plans went on show at St Martin in the Fields Church where Severn Trent Water staff, contractors Costain Limited and designers MWH discussed the proposals with residents and answered their questions. The most common concern from attendees was odour control, which is already considered a big problem by local residents.

Steve Jephcott, of Green Lane, Finham, says there are already unpleasant smells from the plant when the wind blows in a certain direction, and added that increased functionality at the plant will make these smells worse.

He told Coventry Telegraph: "My main concern was whether it was going to smell more.

"We already get a whiff of the sewage if the wind blows in a south westerly direction. But I feel reassured after coming to this event and being told how that can be prevented."

Under the new plans, the sludge recycling facility will be replaced, and there will be a refurbishment of the Sherbourne Inlet Works and improvements to storage tanks on the Sowe Valley Inlet. An additional odour control will be implemented as well as a site traffic management plan.

Brian Lambert, of Walsgrave, Coventry welcomed the planned investment. He told Coventry Telegraph: "I think it’s a good idea.

"It's will be all on the one site and will save pumping sewage from Rock Farm to Finham and back. It makes sense to have it all in one place."

As part of the project, a sewage plant at Rock Farm, in Baginton, will be closed and operations will be sent to Finham.

Posted by Joseph Hutton