MP calls for action over Kingsbridge sewage issue

A Devon MP has called for a "chronic" sewage problem in a town in her constituency to be fixed.

Caroline Voaden, Lib Dem MP for South Devon, told the House of Commons that people in Kingsbridge had been "literally wading through sewage" which had seeped out of drains in heavy rain.

After she asked for a meeting with Environment Secretary Steve Reed to discuss the issue, the cabinet minister said he had already met South West Water (SWW) bosses to agree a programme of reforms.

It comes days after South Hams District Council leaders demanded action from SWW to resolve the problem. SWW said it was working on mitigating the impact of the spillages.

Ms Voaden spoke about the problem in Kingsbridge during a Commons debate about the creation of an independent water commission which could replace current regulator Ofwat, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

She described the issue as a "chronic problem" with sewage floating through the town's streets and she said a solution was "desperately needed".

She added: "In Kingsbridge, the residents are literally wading through sewage, which seeps out of the drains in heavy rain due to a mixture of increased sewage from new houses and ancient culverts that cannot cope.

"I do not think that those residents will be encouraged by a review and a commission which will not solve the problems they will face this winter."

South Hams District Council leader Julian Brazil said residents might refuse to pay their water rates if SWW did not commit to a wholesale upgrade of its sewer network.

SWW said it had met stakeholders to discuss the ongoing issues in Kingsbridge.

It said problems with surface water and sewer flooding had been caused by defects in the surface water network, which was not owned by SWW.

A spokesperson said at times of high tide and heavy rainfall water had spilt into SWW's wastewater network and overwhelmed the system.

"We continue to work to mitigate the impact of this spilling when it happens by using tankers to move flows away from the area," the spokesperson added.

"We are working with the council and the Environment Agency to see what support we can offer to stop this from happening."

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