THE fight to save an historic waterway feature in Marsden has reached Westminster.

Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney has thrown his weight behind the fight to stop renovation of the Butterley Reservoir spillway.

He raised concerns about plans by Yorkshire Water to remove much of the stonework structure and replace it with concrete.

The company claims restoration work costing millions is essential to allow the spillway to continue in working order.

But their proposals have angered many local residents who have formed a protest group to fight the plans.

Mr McCartney described the spillway as “a unique example of engineering skill and endeavour”.

He submitted a list of questions to environment ministers and urged them to look at ways of saving the historic structure.

The MP said: “The Save Butterley Spillway group want full transparency of all documentation, including access to an unedited version of the panel engineers report.

“Yorkshire Water say this isn’t possible quoting the ‘Control of Sensitive Water Company Information (Government Security Advice note AN/11)’. Can this be clarified?

“English Heritage have said the current proposal would involve the demolition of a listed building and constitutes ‘substantial harm’ which must be fully justified as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.

“How does the Government intend to protect Butterley spillway from a water company which has freedom under their General Permitted Development Rights to undertake inappropriate development?

“We urge Yorkshire Water to look again at their plans and find a way to save Butterley Spillway as an operational iconic listed Victorian structure.”

He said the Save Butterley Spillway group was not convinced that all options have been fully explored to preserve the unique heritage of this nationally significant Victorian structure.

Diane Ellis, one of the key members of the group, said: “The village is popular with tourists, particularly walkers and cyclists and visitors marvel at and admire Butterley spillway.

“The spillway looks like a grand staircase you might find at Chatsworth House or similar. As locals, we are very proud of it and we will do everything we can to save it.”

John Bond, of Yorkshire Water’s community engagement team, said: “We have gone to great lengths to explain to Mr McCartney, and local residents the reasons for our proposed engineering solution at Butterley reservoir. This scheme is about delivering vital improvements to an ageing spillway structure in order to ensure it is safe and that there is no risk to public safety.

“Improvements to the spillway, which is over 100 years old, are legally

required to ensure it is operationally fit for purpose and that it meets

the very highest safety standards.

“A huge amount of planning and consultation has taken place to ensure we have a solution which will deliver the necessary improvements whilst still maintaining as much as possible the look and feel of this much-loved structure.

“We expect to submit our Listed Building Consent application in the next few weeks and will be writing to local residents shortly with more information.

“This is not the cheapest or simplest solution. But we’re absolutely sure it’s the right solution; one that will ensure the spillway is fit for purpose, safe and legally compliant, whilst at the same time retaining its iconic appearance.”

Yorkshire Water say that improvements to Butterley spillway are legally required to ensure it is operationally fit for purpose and that it meets the very highest safety standards. This is being driven by the Reservoirs Act 1975.