Village green in North Yorkshire set to reopen after pollution to beck forced it to close

The Environment Agency said no issues had been found with water samples most recently taken from Stainton Beck which flows through Kell Gate Green in the village of Stainton.

An officer was back at the site on Wednesday (Jan 27) to take further samples as part of ongoing monitoring.

Stainton and Thornton Parish Council chairman Alan Liddle said that if these were satisfactory it was likely a decision would be made at its next meeting on February 9 to re-open the area to the public.

The gates to the green were locked in November after tests showed high levels of sewage pollution, alongside other contaminants, posing a significant risk to public health.

There have been claims locally that pet dogs have died after previously playing in the water, although these are unsubstantiated.

Parish council chairman Alan Liddle said: “I am hoping that after this fresh set of tests we will be able to safely open in February, but we are going to have to keep on monitoring the situation and making sure it does not become a problem in the future.

“If the Environment Agency says everything is working accordingly I see no reason why Kell Gate Green shouldn’t re-open, although the one thing we will say is don’t let your dogs and children swim in the beck.”

Recent heavy rain caused by Storm Christoph has swelled the beck waters, which Councillor Liddle said would have diluted any contaminants. But he said a continuing worry was the likely position during the drier summer months when any contaminants would not be flushed downstream.

The source of the pollution has been traced to two nearby properties which are not connected to the mains sewer drainage system and instead have their own ‘packaged’ treatment plants which should – if working properly – discharge safely into the beck.

Coun Liddle, who is also chairman of the group the Friends of Stainton and Thornton Green Spaces, said a pump had been replaced in one of the houses and its treatment plant revamped and serviced.

He added: “We are taking this one step at a time while making sure there is as minimal risk to public health as possible.”

A report previously shared with the parish council indicated that raw effluent and detergent based pollutants were entering the beck.

Warning signs had been put up around the water earlier last year, although the green, which is leased by the council from the Pennyman estate, remained accessible to members of the public until the gates were locked.

Both Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Simon Clarke have previously been asked to intervene in the lengthy saga.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “Following concerns from the community about potential pollution in Stainton Beck, the Environment Agency tested a number of water samples from the beck and no evidence of any current pollution issues was found.

“We are aware of ongoing concerns and will continue to work with Middlesbrough Council and the parish council to provide advice and carry out further sampling and investigation if required.”