Thames Water called to act over Chalfont St Peter flooding

Action has been demanded from a water company as parts of Buckinghamshire continue to be disrupted by flooding and sewage leaks.

Amersham, Chalfont St Peter and villages along the River Misbourne have had high water levels for weeks, with nowhere for excessive rain to go.

Gareth Williams, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for the area, has called for action and compensation.

Thames Water apologised for the impact the issue had brought on customers.

It said its engineers were working round-the-clock to manage excess flows entering the network, which meant some roads would remain cut off for safety.

Posting on X, Mr Williams said he had been in regular contact with Thames Water to share people's "concerns and frustrations".

"Along with [fellow Tory county councillor] Isobel Darby, I have personally taken Thames Water officers to meet some of those directly affected, and we have demanded action and compensation," he added.

"We're assured sewer lining work, to try to prevent groundwater ingress into the sewage pipes and therefore prevent leakage of sewage, would be commencing once the flows permit.

"In the short term, tanker deployment will be increased to lower the levels."

He said he would "keep the pressure on", adding that Thames Water management had agreed to come to a parish council meeting.

The Misbourne, which flows through Great Missenden, Amersham, Chalfont St Giles and Chalfont St Peter, has flooded at many points along the valley over the winter, with sewers overflowing.

It has been deemed a "category 1" event by the Environment Agency, which means it has a serious, extensive or persistent impact on the environment, people or property.

"The excessively heavy rain since early January means the groundwater and river levels remain very high and the ground is saturated," a Thames Water spokesperson said.

"All these issues combined means there is nowhere for further rain or other flow from nearby land to go.

"We recognise the inconvenience that this disruption is having, but our priority is to mitigate any further flooding to customers' properties while the high groundwater and river levels remain high and continue to impact our sewers."

It said it would continue to monitor the situation and work with the Environment Agency and Buckinghamshire County Council.

Last week, the Environment Agency said its officers were "closely monitoring the issue for any impact to the environment".

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