Village hit by 'deeply unpleasant' sewage

Residents in a South Warwickshire village are frustrated by a "deeply unpleasant" sewage leak which they say has not been fixed for two years.

Locals in Oxhill, between Stratford-upon-Avon and Banbury in Oxfordshire, claim a persistent leaky drain takes waste water from two other villages, and the system cannot cope.

They have also said lorries used by Severn Trent Water to pump excess sewage have damaged the Kineton Road, the main route through the village.

Alastair Welford, whose land the leaky drain is on, said: "They keep saying: we'll put it right, we'll identify the problem. But they've been saying that for two years."

Severn Trent Water said more work was being done to improve the issue.

Residents are angered that the main road has been closed for repair work, which has meant those living on the diversion route have had to cope with extra traffic as well.

Resident Andrew Buchanan said: "There's constant noise. Let alone the diesel fumes that are coming out into the environment, along with what the sewage is doing in the fields around us."

Severn Trent Water said it understands the problems caused by their repair work and will "ensure all affected areas are reinstated and repaired".

A Severn Trent Water spokesperson said: "We know this is deeply unpleasant and we will work with the local authorities and landowner on a permanent solution to help manage surface water to help keep it out of the network.

"We understand that our works have caused damage to the road and verges and we will ensure all affected areas are reinstated and repaired."

The roadworks to repair the road have also had an effect on local businesses.

Lucy Thomas, of Thomas Fox Landscaping in nearby Shipton-on-Stour, said her company uses the same road through Oxhill but has had to find ways around the village.

"About 20 trucks a day, they've had to divert to get in and out of the village, which add extra mileage to their journeys, extra time eats into the customers time, so it's generally costing us a bit more money," she said.

The Environment Agency said it was investigating the ongoing problem while Warwickshire County Council said the road would be inspected once Severn Trent had completed work.

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