'Vile' sewage overflow leaves residents frustrated

Residents in Peterborough are "worried and frustrated" by raw sewage which has been overflowing for about two weeks due to a failed pumping station.

Becky Jane, who lives in Hampton Water, said "toilets were blocking up and had sewage overflowing through them", and she said the smell was"vile".

Anglian Water, which said the incident was reported on 20 June, said its teams had been monitoring the potential environmental impact and it had deployed tankers to help reduce pollution.

O&H Land, which owns and operates the pumping station, has been contacted for comment.

Jane added: "The pumping station was completely overflowing to the point that it was coming out of the sewer gates. It was leaking through the side of the wall all over to the public pathway, and it was all on the grass [and] appearing to head into the lake.

"In the hottest week, we haven't been able to open our windows or sit in the garden because we are just inhaling what is like raw sewage, and it's absolutely vile."

"It's been ongoing for two weeks and I'm extremely frustrated."

Fellow resident Coral Aimee said: "The biggest worry for me has been the fact I have a newborn baby and she has had to be in this environment, breathing in the stench of sewage, and we have had blocked toilets in our own home for weeks now."

Morris Homes, a developer in the area, said it had "repeatedly sought assurances that the issue would be treated as a priority".

A spokesperson added: "We understand, however, that the situation has since escalated. Our priority remains the wellbeing of our customers and ensuring this issue is resolved as quickly as possible."

Peterborough City Council member John Howard, who represents the Hargate and Hempsted ward, said: "Replacement pumps have been ordered, and O&H is working to expedite their delivery and installation."

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