Anger at 'potent and vile' sewage smell

Residents are complaining about the smell of sewage due to a blockage at Albion Street wastewater pumping station in Southwick

Residents of a West Sussex town say they have been living with the “horrible” smell of sewage for weeks due to a blocked pipe.

People living around the Albion Street wastewater pumping station in Southwick described the smell as “constant”.

One shop nearby bought air fresheners in an effort to keep it out.

Southern Water has apologised and said teams are clearing the blockage but it was more complex than anticipated.

Lucy Newton, owner of Lulu’s Dance and Activewear, said: “It has been constant - the smell is so strong. It’s really potent, vile and horrible."

She added: "I’m finding I’m apologising to customers as they walk in - I don’t want them to think it’s coming from my shop."

Lucy Newton opened her shop three weeks ago and says she is apologising to customers coming in

“I’ve bought air fresheners and diffusers to try and make it smell a bit more pleasant inside but you can’t get rid of it, it’s everywhere. There doesn’t seem to be anyone telling us what’s going on.”

A spokesperson for Adur and Worthing Councils said it had received complaints about the odour and replied to residents.

Southern Water had to pump sewage out of Southwick in March after the sewers became “inundated”.

'It's hard to sleep'

Southwick resident Jennie Budd said: “The smell has been going on for quite a while now - six weeks maybe.

"It’s pretty disgusting, it’s constant and there’s no getting away from it.

“I walked past it a few weeks ago with my granddaughter and she was nearly sick.”

Joel Whitnell, who lives near the pumping station, said: “At meal times, evenings, when it’s hot, it’s unbearable."

He said it was "hard to sleep when it smells like there’s an open drain in your bedroom”.

A Southern Water spokesperson said: “We’re sorry customers in Southwick have been impacted by odours near Albion Street.

“Our teams are continuing to work on clearing a blockage which is causing issues in our network.

"The work required is more complex than anticipated and it is estimated that the blockage will be dealt with by the end of this week. We apologise for the delay.”