Belaugh not sewage hotspot say villagers but 'Wroxham is'

But earlier this year it gained a new moniker that caused a splash in the small Broads village.

Environment Agency data revealed that Belaugh had become Norfolk's sewage hotspot last year due to having the highest number of spills in the county.

Sewage discharges have become a hot topic in recent years (Image: Archive.)

Figures showed wastewater flowed from an Anglian Water sewage treatment works in Belaugh into the River Bure for more than 2,000 hours in 2023 - the equivalent of 84 days.

However, villagers have hit back at these claims arguing its waters are not as dirty as first thought - although the same can't be said for its neighbouring town downstream.

Norman Evans, chair of the Belaugh Parish Meeting group (Image: Norman Evans)

Norman Evans, chairman of the Belaugh Parish Meeting group, said: "The conditions of the country's waterways are appalling. There is a problem but we do not want it attached to us. 

"While the outfall is in the village, it is in fact only 1,000 yards from Wroxham bridge due to the large oxbow bend of the river. It is most likely the condition is not acceptable for bathing there."

The people of Belaugh have good reason to be protective of its water quality. 

The Belaugh sewage treatment plant (highlighted in yellow) sits next to the River Bure about a 1000 yards away from Wroxham bridge (Image: Google)

A raw water intake site operated by Essex and Suffolk Water is located on the River Bure north west of the village on the other side of the bend.

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Mr Evans says lots of villagers enjoy swimming in the river although he highlighted that the Broads Authority advises against doing so - although the reason for this predominantly centres around safety.

A public meeting was held in the village recently, with Anglian Water representatives attending to offer more information on the situation. 

Swans gather on a sunny day in Wroxham (Image: Newsquest)

The company is legally allowed to release sewage through storm overflows when the system is overwhelmed during heavy rain in order to help prevent flooding.

It says any waste released will be diluted due to the rain, river and surface water which has got into its network.

Last year, sewage overflows reached a record high, which has been blamed on a very wet winter and an increase in the number of outfalls being monitored.

Belaugh, a small village sat along the banks of the River Bure, is known as the Queen of the Broads (Image: Mike Page)

Nigel Dixon is the Conservative councillor for Hoveton, Wroxham's neighbouring village, where the waterways are often busy with paddlers, swimmers and boaters.

"Water quality is concerning to the majority of people who care about the environment.

"In the future, there will be more of the same [due to increasing rainfall] so something needs to be done."

Nigel Dixon, a North Norfolk District councillor for Hoveton (Image: North Norfolk District Council)

Mr Dixon has been left concerned that E. Coli, a bacteria found in organic waste known to cause illness, is not tested for regularly by AW or other agencies unless it is designated bathing water.

For his community in Hoveton, there are further sewage-related issues at hand.

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He says people have had problems with wastewater backing up into their systems in their homes for more than five years.

The issue got worse this year due to the heavy rain, which he says is entering the sewer network along with surface water,  groundwater and river water.

"Action needs to be taken to stop this, not just by AW but by all agencies involved," Mr Dixon added.

"It is a major problem in the village that people have faced since at least 2018."

Anglian Water has said it is "working hard" to drive down the number of spills and is investing £50m into a 'spills taskforce to tackle the problem, while £113m has been invested to tackle spills in Norfolk alone, such as at Horning, Fakenham and Norwich.