HC Deb 16 February 1972 vol 831 c116W
Mr. David Knox

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he anticipates that the River Churnet will cease to be grossly polluted.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

The River Churnet is polluted by effluents from sewage treatment works, from paper-making, a copper works and dye works.

There have been substantial improvements in the past 10 years in the quality of trade effluents and schemes to extend sewage treatment works are under construction or being designed. These should result in an improvement in the quality of the river water during 1973.