FEARS that a Saltash beauty spot could be dug up for the second time in two years have been tempered by South West Water.
Brunel Green, a focal point for Saltash's waterside activities, may face disruption due to the company's need to comply with EU rules. Placing a holding tank there would reduce spillage of sewage into the River Tamar, through overflow from surface water and the old drains in Old Ferry Road.
The prospect has concerned Saltash Partnership who point out there was a large amount of disruption during work at the Green last year. It was feared further digging this year might mar the Salt(B)ash midsummer celebration, which replaces the cancelled New Year's Eve event, and the National Waterski Sprint Championships.
SWW have made known proposals to excavate the ground again to allow placement of the large tank. At five metres by ten metres and going ten metres deep, it will hold a mixture of water and dilute sewage.
Spokesman for SWW Paul Breakwell said, however, the construction underneath Brunel Green is just one option at the moment.
The tank that would be placed under the Green would not be visible from the surface and would make little difference to the Green and the activities that would take place on it.
He said: 'We have more and more legislation that comes from the EU and we have to comply with it. In this case, we have to cut the number of overflows from the Saltash area and a holding tank would do that. If we do start work on Brunel Green, it will not be this year, but more likely in two years time.'
The Partnership are working on plans to regenerate the area, to enhance the amenities and to improve access for water users under the Waterside Phase One scheme. Excavation work originally began on the Green at the end of 1999 and into the beginning of 2000, when a pipeline was placed across the Tamar to Ernesettle, Plymouth, to take sewage.
To get the diggers needed to excavate the ground on to the Green, part of an original wall had to knocked down. When the wall was rebuilt, it used stone that was not natural to the area and not in keeping in with the colour of the rest of the existing wall.
It has also been suggested the Green's original top soil was not replaced by SWW, and instead a clay top soil was put in. This doesn't allow the green to drain properly, meaning that it is often a marsh after a heavy downpour. Those concerned say there is also a question over whether the current sea wall can stand another excavation of the Green.
Residents
Speaking on behalf of Waterside residents, Brian Pedley said: 'Until two years ago, Brunel Green had survived more than 70 years as a publicly owned open expanse of grass and wildflowers, where children could play unimpeded and without fear of injury.
'The Waterfront's oldest and most popular open space has since been despoiled by a major civil engineering project. With the addition of another substantial installation and four more intrusive inspection covers, this precious public space will effectively become the preserve of a private utility company.
'If a holding tank is really considered to be necessary, we ask that South West Water investigate the possibility of burying it underneath the car park, less than 50 yards away, on Jubilee Green, where the damage and intrusion would be considerably less.'