MP Nick Gibb joins residents in fighting for Elmer sewer line

The current processing facility has been labelled as a health

hazard after regularly overflowing, leaving foul water sewage

swamping dozens of gardens, the yacht club and a children's play area on the private estate.

Three years on from the original campaign, the Bognor Regis MP is rejoining the chorus of disapproval at inaction on the issue.

Resident Linda Smith revealed hundreds of homes at Elmer continue to be affected all year round.

She explained that despite fresh talks with Southern Water, many who have joined the campaign '“ and contributed to a 330-signature petition '“ believe that a decisive solution is no closer.

She said: "Every time it rains residents are on edge wondering if the pumping station is going to overflow '“ it seems like people are walking round here up to their necks in sewage.

"It's a real health hazard as children are playing football in their gardens which are contaminated and our dogs are walking through all the foul water.

"I've even seen people deliberately park over manholes on the estate, just to stop them flying up with all the sewage. We need some action on this much more quickly."

Residents are demanding a new sewage line between the site and Ford, which would cost an estimated 1.7m, with a cheaper option being surface run-off works.

The latter, which Southern Water claims is not an option, would at least mean less-frequent visits from the sewage removal tankers which have become an all-too-familiar site on the estate.

Mr Gibb added: "For too many years residents have had to suffer with this issue of foul water and it is unacceptable.

"We've had a useful meeting with Southern Water, but I feel they now need to take action on this.

"We need to see improvements here and the preferred option is the

sewage line to Ford. But according to Southern Water, the regulator (Ofwat) is not allowing them to spend the money on it, so the alternative is a surface run-off system.

"We hope that this will now be at the top of Southern Water's capital spending programme."

A spokesman from Southern Water confirmed the sewerage pipe plan was not in its financial budget plan for 2010-2015.

In a statement the company said this was due to Ofwat claiming it was 'not economical' in terms of meeting flood-alleviation financing. The firm also believed the project would be environmentally unsound on the basis of carbon levels required to initiate the scheme.

A spokesperson said: "Elmer Sands is a low-lying development which is subject to a number of geographical influences, which historically have included a flooding risk from the sea, tidelocking of and surface water flooding from land drainage systems.

"Southern Water has very little responsibility for surface water drainage in the area but is of course aware of the impact this has on the foul sewer network, which is the company's responsibility.

"We are also advocating the preparation of a Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) and understand that Arun DC are making a bid to DEFRA for the preparation of such a plan in the area.

"We feel therefore that a SWMP along with our regular liaison with local authorities and agencies represents the most effective way of finding a solution to the problems in Elmer Sands.

"As a first stage we have agreed a flooding questionnaire with the other agencies and this will be distributed shortly with the local newsletter."

What do you think? Send a letter to [email protected] or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click here to add yourself to our readers' map.