Plea for Southern Water to take ‘urgent’ action over sewage drain on Flexford Lane in Sway

SOUTHERN Water has been told to take “urgent” action over a sewage drain in Sway which floods during heavy downpours, causing dirty water and toilet paper to leak from it.

Residents in Flexford Lane have told the A&T the situation is “really revolting”, with many worrying about the long-term effects the leak – which is running off into the Beaulieu River – is having.

One said: “You see toilet paper and all sorts in the verges, and the water coming from the manhole looks filthy.

“The lane is prone to flooding every time it rains and when it does the drain starts leaking. It goes all in the road and then into the river.

“It has been going on for two years now and despite many of us making regular complaints to Southern Water and Hampshire County Council, it just stays the same.”

Another resident who moved to the village only a year ago revealed her family’s life is being made a “misery” by the situation.

She said: “It’s not just the flooding and the sewage, it is the sometimes 24-hour non-stop pumping of the water away by tanks when it happens.

“The noise is awful, and the lights and everything. My children can’t sleep when it happens.”

The New Forest Green Party says the regular sewage spill “poses a severe environmental and public health risk”.

Spokesperson Anna Collar said: “It is unacceptable. Our current infrastructure is grossly inadequate – we need a long-term solution.”

A spokesperson for Southern Water said: “We’re sorry about the overflowing manhole in Flexford Lane. This was reported on 10th December and we are making a clean-up.

“The area suffers from very high ground water compounded by storms and weeks of rain. Our priority is to protect customers’ homes from flooding.”

Although residents say they are “pleased” action over the sewage leak is being taken, there are still calls for the flooding along the lane to be investigated.

Alison Scott, who owns a cattery on the lane, says the flooding has been going on “for several years”, adding: “It gets so bad down by the bridge at the bottom of the lane that some of my clients are too afraid to come up here, so I have to go down and collect their cats from them.

“The flooding has got worse and worse, and this year it has been awful with all the storms.

“In the winter the road is an absolute nightmare when it freezes over; so dangerous. Hampshire County Council need to sort it out.”