Fix 'unacceptable' sewage problem, MP urges

Godalming and Ash MP Jeremy Hunt visited a Thames Water sewage pumping station following the latest leak

Thames Water has been urged take urgent and permanent action after a Surrey village was flooded with raw sewage twice in recent weeks.

Last month Alfold residents saw their gardens submerged in sewage and dirty toilet paper after heavy rain during Storm Bert, with similar issues happening again after a leak on 12 January.

Now Godalming and Ash MP Jeremy Hunt has called on Thames Water, which has apologised to the those affected, to sort the "unacceptable" problem once and for all.

Speaking from the company's Alfold sewage pumping station, Mr Hunt shared the story of three residents who "had sewage coming right up to their front doors".

"They've got sandbags now to stop it, and it was like a river," he said, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A video posted by the MP shows sewage water rising out of the ground, with residents saying it is the second time in a month they have been forced to take action.

One resident described themselves as fortunate to have wellingtons but said they "could not get to the front door without walking all the way through it and that that is totally unacceptable".

Another said: "The sewage was coming up to my front door and again there was no care from Thames Water whatsoever."

The water company said it plans to re-line pipes behind Clappers Orchard to prevent groundwater from infiltrating the sewers.

A Thames Water spokesperson said: "We recognise how difficult this can be for our customers.

"The high groundwater levels, caused our sewer system to overload, resulting in diluted wastewater to escape from manholes."

The company promised to update Hunt on its progress later this week.

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