Page 9 - RNT-C04

The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

Construction of the first phase of the new
sewage disposal works at Spernal, south of
Studley, Warwickshire, was expected to be
completed by the end of 1969. These works
would be linked with those of the Redditch
Urban District Council at Ipsley, which they,
in due course, superseded. Arrangements
were also made to take sewage from
N e w s p a p e r Studley.
reports of the
opening of The Spernal works ensured that the Arrow
Spernal Ash Valley water-shed was adequately serviced.
They would not, however, help with the area
to the west of the ridge where pumping
schemes were to be introduced. There were
initially no proposals for new works for the
western area although the Urban District
Council introduced palliative measures at
Hunt End.

During February and March, 1970 the first
of the three phases of the Spernal Sewage
Works, designed for a dry weather flow of
2,000,000 gallons per day was brought into
use. The works were designed to take into
account the high content of toxic metals
derived from metal finishing industries in
Redditch, which render the sewage and
sludge difficult to treat. During that year,
experiments were carried out to test
whether Redditch sewage could be treated
by conventional aeration and to establish
the optimum method of tertiary treatment.
The results provided valuable guidance in
the design of the two future phases.

In addition to the new sewage works, some
8 miles of trunk sewers varying from 72 ins.
diameter and less had to be laid. During
the latter part of the year construction
commenced on a further 4 miles of trunk
sewers which would form the last major
sewerage contract in the Eastern Areas.
Included with these trunk sewers, which
were both foul and surface water, were 4
major flood water balancing areas which
were required by reason of the relatively
low capacity of the River Arrow, and also to
As well as sewage from housing estates,
reduce the cost of the surface water
surface storm water from roads needs to
be managed to avoid local flooding. sewerage network.

Page: 97