United Utilities plans underground storm tank in Cheadle to address water quality of local rivers

A consultation has begun ahead of upcoming work by United Utilities to install a new storm water storage tank in Brookfields Park, Cheadle.

The water company is planning to invest in a 500,000 litre storm tank that will reduce the need to use storm overflows during heavy rainfall that can lead to sewage and other waste contaminating local watercourses, including Micker Brook, and subsequently the River Mersey.

Work will see the underground storage tank installed in Brookfields Park, close to Life Leisure Cheadle, as well as the necessary pipework to connect it to the wider water infrastructure. Ahead of the works, plans will be on display at a consultation event at Cheadle Golf Club Monday 29 April between 2pm – 6.45pm where a team from the water company will be available to answer questions. Local residents in the vicinity of the works have also been invited by post to attend the drop in session.

United Utilities Delivery Manager, Joanne Coote said:

‘This work is part of our regional Better Rivers strategy and proposed £1.5 billion investment across the North West. Work is expected to start on site in June 2024 and will continue until Summer 2025 during which there will be temporary changes for access, car parking and local footpaths.

‘There will also be noticeable changes to the area once the work has been completed including the installation of a concrete path to allow for ongoing maintenance. We aim to keep disruption to a minimum during the works and put the site back to the original condition once work is completed.’

The work at Cheadle forms part of United Utilities’ investment programme to bring a massive reduction in sewer pollution entering the region’s waterways. Work has already started at some of the highest priority sites and by 2030 the company has proposed to invest £3 billion to improve more than 430 storm overflows across the region.

In early 2023, Stockport Council was among the first local authorities in England to initiate a public enquiry over sewage dumping by water companies into waterways in the borough after over 977 separate events of sewage being discharged into the Mersey in 2022.