A SEPTIC tank in a Worcestershire hamlet has been branded a public health hazard by planners.

Councillors gave Severn Trent permission to construct a permanent sewage pumping station in Kerswell Green, near Kempsey, after Worcestershire County Council officers described the existing septic tank as “a risk to public health”.

Residents had already complained about the tank, which serves seven houses, because it must be emptied every day to prevent overflowing effluent polluting the surrounding area.

At Worcestershire County Council’s planning meeting yesterday planning officer Mark Bayliss recommended that the plans were given a green light.

He said: “The existing tank is regarded as a risk to public health.

“It has the potential to pollute the water environment and its continued use relies on daily tanker visits.

“Officers have looked at this from a development, health and environmental impact point of view and it’s felt that it would be wholly acceptable to go ahead with the proposal.”

The pumping station, comprising an underground chamber and three kiosk buildings above ground, would replace the need for a septic tank.

Discussing the application, Councillor Maurice Broomfield said: “It looks like a very good scheme that would benefit of those living in the area.

“I’m happy to support it provided that the older tank is removed.

“You don’t want a rusty old tank there for the next 200 years.”

Kempsey Parish Council had also asked that the existing tank – which is concrete, rather than metal – is filled in and the area returned to grassed common land, which Severn Trent has agreed to.

Original plans to build an earth bund around the 3,200 square-metre (0.32 hectares) site were abandoned after the county landscape officers said it would be “visually intrusive” and completely out of keeping with the area.

Instead, a hedge will be planted along the entire south eastern boundary – opposite the M5 motorway.

It was also agreed that archaeological work is carried out on the site, which was described as rich in prehistoric and Romano-British settlements, before the pumping station is built.

County councillors voted unanimously in favour of the proposal.