Sewage overflows onto Horley public footpath

Thames Water has apologised after sewage from storm tanks overflowed onto a public footpath in Horley, Surrey.

Lisa Scott, chair of Charlwood Parish Council, said action had been promised after a previous incident.

Singer and campaigner Feargal Sharkey claimed on X, formerly Twitter, that Thames Water had "given up any attempt to contain and treat their sewage".

Thames Water said a temporary pump has now been installed.

Mr Sharkey, former vocalist of the Undertones, added: "Just let it spread into the surrounding countryside and local housing estates, the regulators won't do anything. And how right they are."

The singer's comments came as he reposted a post from Ms Scott, who is a former Mole Valley Councillor and will be the Green Party's parliamentary candidate in the new constituency of Dorking and Horley.

Her original post, which featured video of the flooding, said: "Sewage [is] literally overflowing from the storm tanks at Horley sewage treatment works on to public footpath at Westvale park."

She said the flooding followed a similar incident in November 2023.

She said: "I met with Thames Water late last year and brought this up with their CEO at a public meeting in Guildford, so they're fully aware, but I haven't had any contact from them, which is very disappointing."

A Thames Water spokesperson said: "We regard all discharges as unacceptable and are sorry to those affected by this.

"We have published plans to upgrade over 250 of our sewage treatment works and sewers including Horley. This will improve the sites' ability to treat the high volumes of incoming sewage and reduce the need for overflows during wet weather.

"In the meantime, we have installed a temporary over pump to help reduce flooding on the footpath and will be carrying out a clean-up of the area when water levels recede."

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