Thames Water urged to create future plans for flood prevention

A group of campaigners gathered with placards ahead of the council meeting

Banner-wielding protestors have grilled Thames Water officials over the authority's plans to stop sewage spilling into rivers.

Representatives for the water company attended a meeting organised by West Berkshire Council on Wednesday.

Residents were given the opportunity to ask officials about plans to clean up rivers across the county.

Richard Aylard from Thames Water warned campaigners heavy rain could cause winter flooding this year.

He admitted the Environment Agency awarding the company two stars out of four in its latest annual report "wasn't good enough".

Members of campaign groups including Action For River Kennet, River Action UK and East Garston Flood and Pollution Forum attended the meeting.

Martyn Wright, from the East Garston Flood and Pollution Forum, told officials the heavy rainfall last winter saw water coming up from the ground, with gardens and roads regularly being flooded.

'Unacceptable'

At the meeting he asked a Thames Water spokeswoman what the firm planned to do to stop it happening again.

In reply she said: "We did put tankers out there last year, that will be our response this year, it will be a tanker to keep on top of things."

During the meeting, residents also explained there had been various incidents of flooding where sewage had gone into people's houses.

Peter Devery from River Action UK asked officials: "There've been no new reservoirs with 600 million litres a day leaking from your systems. How are you going to ensure the water security for West Berkshire in your next five year plan?"

The Thames Water spokesperson told him: "We regard all discharges of untreated sewage as unacceptable.

"We have planned substantial investment in our local sewage treatment works to reduce the need for untreated discharges across the Thames Valley and in West Berkshire, including East Shefford, Pangbourne, Bucklebury, Chapel Row and Hampstead Norreys.

"Addressing discharges will take time and sustained investment, however each step we take on this journey is a move in the right direction."

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