The current exhibition at the Museum made me reflect on the changes I’ve seen since arriving at Bath Spa Station for an interview at the new Bath University of Technology in 1967. The buildings were blackened through centuries of smoke-filled streets from coal fires and industry. But by the 70s the buildings were being cleaned (although they continued to fight a battle with emissions from traffic…)

Following university, and a spell working at Clark’s in Twerton, I was employed by the Bristol Avon River Authority as a Water Quality officer, monitoring river quality, authorised discharges to the catchment’s rivers and pollution incidents. With the arrival of Wessex Water Authority in 1974 our duties extended to trade discharges to the sewers in the region. I would like to think that the rivers in the region have improved over the years – by diligence of the team of inspectors, the occasional prosecution (persuasion was preferred) and of course businesses closing or relocating.

In this respect I recall my colleagues at Saltford Sewage Treatment works reporting that treatment was becoming difficult. We traced the problem to Oldfield Park where there used to be a small electroplating business. Lifting the manhole cover outside the premises I was struck by the smell of almonds! Cyanide! This was used in the plating process and rather than recycle it was being tipped into the drain, wasting material, adding to their costs and killing the bugs at the Sewage works. From then on, they did contain their treatment liquids and eventually moved to more suitable premises away from a residential area.

One small example of how the environment of Bath has improved over the last half century – for residents and rivers alike!

Dr Trevor Turpin