Six month footpath closure due to new eel screens as part of Sesswick Water Treatment Works upgrades

A public footpath could be closed for up to six months as screens to protect endangered eel species from becoming trapped in intakes and being killed are installed.

A connected planning application notes the upgades include the installation of a new “Air Burst Kiosk which is required as part of a wider scheme of works being undertaken at the site to upgrade the existing eel screens on the raw water intake structure on the banks of the River Dee”.

It added, “The new eel screens and associated works are required in response to the implementation of the Eels Screens Regulation 2009 which came into force on the 15th of January 2010.

“This regulation requires that eels are protected at all intake sites which have an abstraction capacity of at least 20 cubic metres of water through any one point in any 24-hour period. The European eel is currently on the endangered list, to protect eel”

The new kiosk will measure approximately 4.50m in length by 3.50m in width by 2.80m in height. It will have a footprint of approximately 15.75m2 and an internal capacity of approximately 44.10m3, “The kiosk will be constructed from Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) and the external coating will be coloured dark Holly Green (BS 4800 14-C-39) to help it assimilate with the surrounding landscape”.

The Sesswick public footpath pictured on the above map will be closed off for approximately 340 metres for up to six months due to the works from today.

The plans add, “It is not anticipated the proposed development will have any adverse affects on local ecology, heritage, amenity, access, flood risk and drainage and that any visual impacts arising from the works will be negligible and localised.”