From: "P Moreton" <PMoreton@dsl.pipex.com>
To: <development.control@southlakeland.gov.uk>
Subject: Kendal Auction Mart relocation - planning re. 0601
Date: 22 October 2009 19:16

I am writing as Secretary of Milnthorpe Angling Association (MAA) to
record our objection and express our deep concern at the proposal to
site the new Action Mart near Crooklands. One of our committee members,
Ian McMurdo, submitted a personal objection which was discussed at our
recent October committee meeting. The committee wholly endorse the
points put forward by Mr McMurdo and would like to emphasize their
concerns with this statement.

The proposal to use a natural system to deal with the effects of
effluent run off  appears to us, whilst no doubt effective in normal
conditions, to be a system which does not guarantee to be without
potential risk of pollution. In the various planning application
documents the risk of a pollution incident appears not to have been
considered or assessed, although the Ecological Survey does acknowledge
that such an event is a possibility. The potential risk from factors
which could affect a water based method of dealing with effluent run off
such as extremes of drought, flood or temperature, do not appear to have
been considered, but in our opinion should be part of a risk assessment.

Stainton beck is a small but important tributary of the Bela,
contributing approximately one third of the Bela's combined flow. Like
most small streams in the area, being largely rain fed, they are subject
to significant variation in flow and in times of low rain fall can
become severely reduced in volume. This makes the river's eco system
particularly vulnerable. We know from experience that this severely
affects the invertebrate life and the in stream vegetation. Mr McMurdo
mentioned in his objection the rapid growth of algal growth which occurs
when river levels are low and which would increase with any additional
nutrient enrichment. This would affect Stainton Beck and given the
relatively short distance to its confluence with Peasey Beck, we would
expect this influence to extend in to the river Bela. None of the
reports appear to provide information about the chemical constitution of
the outflow discharging into Stainton Beck , which we believe to be an
omission, and have therefore assumed the worst possible case, which is
that it will be an enriched outflow.

Normal operations appear to us to pose a potential threat to upsetting
the balance of the river's eco system. A serious pollution incident,
given the size of the site would be catastrophic. Whilst the Ecological
Survey mentions white clawed crayfish, it fails to consider the wider
aspects of the ecology of the Stainton and Bela system. The survey
should consider  the following  issues and the impact of normal
operations and a serious breakdown in the waste system.:

* The importance of the system as a wild trout river and a
spawning river for sea trout and salmon.
* The invertebrate life of the river. The Bela system represents
one of the richest and healthiest rivers in South Cumbria.
* The in stream vegetation particularly ranunculus. The Bela
system , running off lime stone, represents a unique river system with
features more usually found on southern chalk streams.

The recent regrettable incident on the Trent is a pertinent example of
how effluent systems can go wrong and cause such catastrophic damage.
Stainton Beck is a much smaller river system than the Trent and would be
at greater risk from a serious pollution incident caused by a breakdown
of the proposed effluent treatment system. A severe pollution incident
could cause damage to the river system,  which it could take years,
perhaps decades to recover from.

I trust you will take the above issues into account.

Peter Moreton

Secretary MAA

6 Keasedale Av.
Carrbank
Milnthorpe
Cumbria
LA7 7LA