PLANS for a pumping station in Marton which were met with objections from nearby residents has been withdrawn.

United Utilities (UU) submitted a planning application in September 2022 for a new pumping station approximately 260m away from the existing Marton North Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) – which it said would be decommissioned.

The water supply company has since confirmed this application has been withdrawn but said it will ‘review its options’ and ‘engage with the community’ when it is able to do so.

The development along Dalefords Lane would have comprised an area of 1,026 sq m on a grassland site, used to grow silage, bounded by Bogart Brook.

Nearby residents said the plans entailed using this brook as an outlet for untreated sewage ‘in times of emergency’ – just one of their objections.

They were also concerned the new site meant two mature oak trees would be felled, as well as several metres of mature hedgerow, while the only layby on Whitegate Road would no longer be open for public use.

Susan and Andrew Haigh, who live nearby, shared their concerns in October, saying: “We’ve got a neighbourhood plan which clearly says we should be looking after our environment, our views, and our landscape and this is completely against it.

“It seems illogical when there’s a wastewater treatment on the other end of the field that is enclosed and can’t be seen. It just seems to be in the wrong place.”

UU’s original plans stated the existing Marton North WwTW was not a suitable location for the new pumping station because of a lack of vehicular access.

The planning application stated the proposed scheme was ‘complementary’ to a major programme of works refurbishing and upgrading existing UU assets across the region.

But UU confirmed the planning application had been withdrawn, with the decision issued on the Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning website on February 6.

Susan and Andrew said: “We are glad that the application has been withdrawn, however we do not feel that this is, by any means, the end of the story.”

A spokesperson for UU added: “We are continuing to review our options and will engage with the local community when we are able to do so.”