News

Plans to create a new wetland in Cinderford are gathering pace, as Severn Trent engineers and their contractors, Mott Macdonald Bentley, move onto the next phase of the project.

The water company has begun preparatory works on a patch of land near its treatment works, so construction can get underway in early August.

Local residents will start to see increased activity in the area, as ecologists safely relocate Great Crested Newts away from the proposed wetland.

The project, which was first announced back in March, will benefit conditions in the Cinderford Brook and create a new habitat for local wildlife.

It forms part of Severn Trent’s Great Big Nature Boost scheme, which includes plans to plant 1.3m trees, revive 12,000 acres of land and help restore 2,000km of rivers across the Severn Trent region by 2027.

Shannon Currall, Community Communications Officer at Severn Trent, said: “It’s an exciting time for this project, as preparation works get underway across the site. It means we’re one step closer to creating a new wetland in Cinderford, which will bring huge benefits for the local community.

“Wetlands are great because they allow us to naturally store water and help us regulate flows without the need of more hard engineering. They also improve the habitat for local wildlife, helping us to deliver on the commitments we made last year as part of our Great Big Nature Boost scheme.”

Shannon added: “Some customers may notice increased activity in the area, especially on Forest Vale Road and Valley Road, which may be busier than normal. This is just so we can carry out preparatory works at the site, before the construction phase begins.”

“We’ll do our absolute best to keep any disruption to a minimum and we’d like to thank everyone in advance for the patience and understanding.”