Concerns over suspected sewage in beck

Concerns have been raised about suspected sewage discharge in a beck in Scunthorpe.

Max Bell and Judith Matthews, both Labour councillors for the Ashby Lakeside ward on North Lincolnshire Council, have asked the council and the Environment Agency (EA) to investigate discharges into Bottesford Beck.

The authority said it was working with the EA which, along with Severn Trent, shares responsibility for the beck.

The EA said it was working with partners to improve the water quality and Severn Trent said it had supported previous investigations, although this issue was not related to its network.

The councillors have called on the agencies to investigate the source of any discharges and to identify actions to stop them in future.

"Residents are understandably worried about what may be entering Bottesford Beck," Bell said.

Matthews said the concerns had been raised more than once.

"It's important that we now get clarity on what's happening," she said.

"If action is required, then that action must be taken."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the concerns relate to a stretch of the water at Ashby Lakeside down to Café Natura.

There are three storm overflows that run into Bottesford Beck.

The EA regulates storm overflows, and its data shows the Scunthorpe South Grange combined sewer overflow, not far from Wisteria Way in Ashby, saw 26 spills for 301.95 hours during 2025.

Last summer the EA investigated one report of water pollution in the beck but found no sewage discharge in samples taken.

A Severn Trent spokesperson said: "We've been supporting the Environment Agency and council on their investigations at Bottesford Beck.

"We have attended site on a number of occasions and confirmed the issue is not related to our network."

Severn Trent said it would always investigate customers' concerns about foul water discharge.

A North Lincolnshire Council spokesperson said: "We are working with the Environment Agency on this issue, as ultimately the responsibility lies with them."

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