New homes will overload our sewers, claims young mum (From This is Hampshire)

New homes will overload our sewers, claims young mum

11:40am Wednesday 8th July 2009 in

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A TIMSBURY woman claims a developer building a new ‘mini village’ on her doorstep will overload the area’s sewerage system Young mother Sarah Jane Fairey, who lives close to the 30-home development, dubbed Tilebourne, on the old Redland Tile works, says Banner Homes has only just sought planning permission for the removal of foul sewage even though building work has started.

“They are planning to go along Rudd Lane with the sewage pipe and link it up with a six-inch pipe that serves six properties in Chapel Lane,” said Mrs Fairey.

“The sewage system is old and I doubt whether it will be able to cope with the 30 extra homes. If there was a problem, it would mean a back up of raw sewage pouring into homes in Chapel Lane.”

Piers Banfield of Banner Homes told the Advertiser: “The sewage pipe that we are laying is within the adopted highway and we have all required consents to put this in.”

Mrs Fairey also claimed watercouses could be contaminated by methane and hydrocarbons from the site, which was contaminated.

“Under the site, part of which is an old landfill site, are aquifers or springs which are only about 400 yards from the nearest Southern Water site and not far away from the River Test. Any contamination will go straight into the water supply,” she said.

But Mr Banfield said gas testing on the site showed there was “no migration” of methane.

“This derelict site was heavily contaminated and given the location on the edge of the village, could have presented a danger to those who strayed onto it,” he said “We have spent many hundreds of thousands of pounds remediating the ground and clearing the site of debris left behind by the previous occupiers. Our work on the development is providing a very positive environmental outcome for the adjoining community.”

Test Valley Borough Council confirmed planning regulations had been adhered to.

Spokeswoman Christine Brown said: “The Environment Agency has been consulted on the development proposals and has confirmed that it is satisfied with the remediation works. The council is monitoring the site to ensure compliance with the conditions attached to the planning permission and will keep in close contact with the developer.”