YORKSHIRE Water has dismissed claims by Keighley MP Robbie Moore it has begun construction work at a waste treatment site "without planning permission".
Mr Moore has claimed the water provider is carrying out works at a site in Oxenhope without the required permissions and called their actions "unacceptable".
He has also said the works - at an existing wastewater treatment works - "invade the privacy of nearby homes" and an eyesore for residents and people using the nearby footpath.
Yorkshire Water said it secured full planning permission for the £5.4 million project but some aspects of the project were "incorrectly assessed" as being allowed, and after speaking to residents, Mr Moore himself and Bradford Council last month to outline changes, it will submit an application retrospectively in the coming weeks.
The project is aimed at reducing the levels of phosphorus in treated wastewater that is returned to the environment to improve water quality in the nearby Bridgehouse Beck.
Bradford Council said permission was granted in November 2020, but after receiving reports from residents of equipment being installed, Planning Enforcement visited the site.
Robbie Moore visited the site with residents and Councillor Rebecca Poulsen last week to see the works, and has since said he has written to Yorkshire Water calling for all work to be ceased immediately until proper planning permission is secured.
He said: "Yorkshire Water have behaved completely unacceptably; they are acting like they are above the rules which everyone else must follow.
"The development is in a beautiful part of the Worth Valley, right next to the famous Railway Children Walk.
"Those who use this walk regularly and those who live near the site have every right to be furious that Yorkshire Water would undertake such a large construction without the necessary planning permission and gaining the appropriate consents, and thinking they could get away with it.
"Bradford Council have advised Yorkshire Water to apply for retrospective planning, but this is only because neighbouring residents and others have expressed serious concern. For a large corporate, Yorkshire Water should know better.
"No company is above the law, and I am fed up with organisations thinking that they can carry on regardless and then just put in a retrospective planning application. I expect Bradford Council to take a tough stance on this."
A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said: “Construction work at Oxenhope wastewater treatment works is part of a £5.4m project to reduce phosphorus levels in the treated wastewater we return to the environment, which will improve water quality in local watercourses.
“To install new equipment at the site, which is restricted in size, it was necessary to increase the footprint of the site. Full planning permission was successfully sought, however, some elements of the project were incorrectly assessed as allowable under planning prescribed rights.
“We were in communication with residents, Bradford Council and the local MP in December to outline the changes and following further consultation with Bradford Council’s planning department, we’ve agreed to submit a retrospective planning application.
“This will also include proposals for further work, including appropriate screening of the site, to ensure our treatment works has as limited an impact on the area as possible.”
A Bradford Council spokesperson added: “We are working with Yorkshire Water to ensure that this scheme is completed in a way which means as little disruption to residents as possible.
“Planning permission was granted in November 2020 for additional equipment to be installed to reduce the phosphorous content of wastewater from Oxenhope treatment works.
“We received reports from residents some of the equipment installed was not included on the planning application and, following action by the Planning Enforcement Service, Yorkshire Water has agreed to submit a retrospective application for the additional development.
"Yorkshire Water is currently preparing this application and expecting to submit it over the next few weeks, and residents and Yorkshire Water will have an opportunity to make their representations. We will then consider the application on its own merits.”
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