A CHEMICAL works has been praised for reducing pollution in a stretch of river.

But an Environment Agency plan reveals that Blythe's Chemical Manufacturers, Church, continues to pollute a small part of White Ash Brook, Tinker Brook and Hyndburn Brook.

At one time pollution from the site meant that a 7,000metre length of river failed to meet the European dangerous substances directive but this has been reduced to 300metres.

The Agency is working with the company to develop good environmental practice and aims to resolve the situation over the next five years.

The details were submitted to Hyndburn councillors in an Environment Agency Plan at a cleansing and public health committee earlier this week.

Some of the other findings in the plan show that:

All rivers in Hyndburn are now of good standard with the exception of the River Calder and Knuzden Brook which are of fair quality. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is categorised as fairly good.

Hyndburn waste water treatment works - a major factor in improving water quality - needs further investment.

Improvements have been made in relation to combined sewer overflows (CSOs) which are a significant cause of water pollution. But there are still eight unsatisfactory CSOs affecting Hyndburn Brook and the plan also identifies the need for improvements to 26 different CSOs which contribute to pollution of Knuzden Brook/River Blakewater. Eight of these will be resolved by March.

The cleansing and public health report states: "The local Environment Agency Plan sets out the agency's approach to tackling environmental issues for which they have responsibility. If successfully implemented, the plan will have a major positive impact on the local environment."

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