Housing developments will now be allowed in certain parts of the river’s catchment area, but one council is not happy
The River Camel as it passes through Wadebridge
A Cornish council has spoken out against a decision by Natural England to remove environmental protection from a section of the River Camel, which councillors say will leave the “floodgates open for sewage”.
In 2021, Natural England wrote to Cornwall Council concerning phosphate pollution in the River Camel, which has led to a temporary ban on house building and other development in the catchment area. To ensure that new development does not lead to more pollution, the council can only approve housing plans that are ‘nutrient neutral’.
The Camel flows through the parishes of Michaelstow, St Breward, St Tudy, St Mabyn, Helland, Lanivet, St Breock and Egloshayle before reaching its tidal estuary at Wadebridge and on to the popular holiday destinations of Padstow and Rock.
Natural England has now reviewed the condition of the River Camel and South West Water’s (SWW) plans for wastewater treatment, which Cornwall Council says shows there is no longer a need to mitigate phosphate pollution in certain areas.
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After working with the Environment Agency to undertake updated assessment of “nutrient neutrality catchments”, based on forthcoming improvements to wastewater treatment works by SWW, Natural England has now removed the stumbling block stopping the council approving new housing.
Developments will now be allowed in the Blisland, Bodmin Nanstallon, Bodmin Scarletts Well and St Breward wastewater treatment areas as long as they are “nutrient neutral”
The move has not gone down well with Helland Parish Council.
A spokesperson for the council said: “Natural England and Cornwall Council have decided to remove environmental protection from a section of the Camel River. This will allow construction of new housing, as well as other developments that cause flooding and toxic run-off from farmland.
“Natural England have proposed this despite their own evidence of unacceptably high levels of untreated sewage and other pollutants in the river.”
The parish council says that in the last 12 years, the Camel has seen an eight-fold loss of spawning Atlantic salmon, with Natural England stating in 2021 that the Camel was in “an unsatisfactory state”.
The river is one of just 44 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in England. Natural England said: “These rivers are recognised for their importance in terms of ecology, habitats and biodiversity, and exemplify the best rivers for nature and ecosystem services in the country. The River Camel Valley and Tributaries SSSI is one of these rivers.”
Despite this, Helland Parish Council says that in 2024 the Camel suffered more than 227 ‘sewage outflows’ – a total of nearly five hours per day.
The council spokesperson said: “Natural England has now allowed Cornwall Council to remove protection from that portion of the river affected by the South West Water waste treatment works at St Breward, Blisland, Bodmin Scarletts Well and Bodmin Nanstallon.
“In 2024, Nanstallon alone released sewage outflow for 791 hours. Natural England has given South West Water until April 1, 2030 to complete upgrades to their waste treatment works.”
“A healthy river supports and nourishes every living being, ourselves included, in and around it,” said Orlando Kimber, chair of Helland Parish Council.
“The duty of Natural England and the Environment Agency is to protect this resource from further damage. By encouraging the use of the Camel as a sewer, they are failing in their duty. When we poison a stream, by design or by accident, we poison ourselves.”
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