THE ENVIRONMENT Agency is being asked to review its discharge permit to Yorkshire Water amid concerns about raw sewage in the River Wharfe.

Ilkley Town Council is writing to the agency calling for action after a number of complaints about waste in the water.

The Environment Agency is also being asked to send a representative to discuss the issue with councillors.

Campaigners say raw sewage - including solids and sanitary towels - has being pumped into the river after just a few minutes of rain during the long hot summer.

Last month people were warned not to swim near the outflow, and calls were made for a tightening of controls.

Following complaints from residents Yorkshire Water has installed a new pump at its Ashland Road waste treatment site. It says the “significant investment” means more untreated waste water will be retained in tanks, instead of spilling down the overflow.

Councillors and campaigners are to tour the treatment site after an invitation from Yorkshire Water. This week two representatives of the company attended a meeting of Ilkley Parish Council to answer questions.

Chris Page, catchment manager for the North West of the region, told a meeting of Ilkley Town Council: “During this dry period we have had a lot of rain all of a sudden. Because the ground is so hard nothing has been able to sink in.”

In a letter to Ilkley Town Council the water company says: “The site in Ilkley is closely monitored by the Environment Agency and we are satisfied the site is fully operational and well within the permit conditions set out in the consent to discharge issued by the EA. “

Cllr Mike Ridgway criticised Yorkshire Water for an “unacceptable” situation, and asked: “Are you sitting back and allowing sewage to go into this river - and saying sorry it is not our responsibility.”

Cllr Susan Cuthbertson said: “We are predominantly a tourist town and by the fouling of the river our tourist industry could suffer. Our businesses would suffer.”

She added: “What concerns me is that we are getting more and more houses but we have not got the infrastructure to support them.

“The system is outdated from what I can see.”

The meeting heard raw sewage had been spotted close to where people swim, and that there was a case of five people becoming ill immediately after swimming.

The council is considering putting up warning signs near the outflows warning people not to swim.

Yorkshire Water policy adviser Emily Brady told the meeting the advice from the environment agency was not to swim in rivers.