Sewage block raises a stink

A FURIOUS Needham Market resident today demanded action to solve a blockage that has seen his street flooded with raw sewage three times in one year.

The final straw for Gavin Smith, of Station Yard, came last weekend when pipes clogged with grease started churning human waste into the street.

The 52-year-old said: "We couldn't even flush our toilet for a while because the pipe was blocked. It was terrible.

"We need a long-term solution because this has happened three times in the year that I've been living here."

The leak left a lingering stench in the area and has been described as a health hazard.

It follows a similar incident in December, which led to festive celebrations planned for the area being called off.

Then, a group of disgruntled traders got together to speak out about the situation, claiming it was affecting their business.

Now Wendy Marchant, district councillor, has called for a meeting with Anglian Water to find a lasting remedy to the problem.

But the water company has already claimed it is not responsible for the pipes, saying they belong to a private network.

This has left Mid Suffolk District Council with the task of dealing with the problem, which is thought to have been caused by grease being thrown down the drains.

John Grayling, environment control manager at the council, has identified the business he believes are responsible and has asked them to take preventative measures.

These include installing grease traps on the drains to ensure they remain clear.

Mr Grayling said: "We've got a fairly good idea about who is responsible and we've had an indication from them that they're going to sort it out."

He added: "I've contacted Anglian Water about arranging a meeting but I'm yet to receive a reply."

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