SOUTHERN Water has kicked up a storm with a bid to pump raw sewage into the waters of Christchurch Bay at Barton-on-Sea.

When inland treatment works are overloaded in times of heavy rainfall or by technical failures, the water company wants to be allowed to discharge untreated effluent from a new sea outfall pipe.

Sewage would run through a 500-metre pipe extending through the Barton Cliffs and across the beach to discharge 50 metres beyond the low water mark into the bay which extends from Hengistbury Head to Hurst Spit.

The bay includes the popular tourist beaches at Mudeford, Highcliffe, Barton, Milford and Keyhaven.

Amenity groups including the Stanpit and Mudeford residents association have objected to the government pollution watchdogs the Environment Agency responsible for sanctioning the Southern Water application scheme.

In a letter to the agency residents association secretary John Tompsett said currents could cause a build up of effluent in the environmentally-sensitive waters and shoreline of Christchurch Harbour.

"As the harbour is used for a variety of leisure activities, it is clear there is a risk to public health and the Stanpit Marsh site of special scientific interest," said Mr Tompsett.

Environment Agency spokesman Robin Blundell said the Southern Water application was to vary its previous permission which allows emergency discharges from an outfall further along the cliffs at Barton where recent slippages have made the pipe unusable.

He said: "We will determine the application in line with our policy for sea discharges and taking on board any objections and comments from a raft of statutory consultees."

Southern Water press officer Paula Jackman said it was anticipated the Barton outfall would only be needed four times a year mainly during the winter months when surface water surcharge of the sewage plant led to manholes overflowing into streets and gardens.