Hickling villagers demand upgrade to sewer system after flooding

Steve and Sue Adkins' garden was flooded with raw sewage in October 2023

An MP has organised a meeting for residents who are demanding improvements to a sewer system after being flooded.

One couple living in Hickling, Norfolk had to use a public toilet 400m (1,312ft) from their home until a contractor donated a portable toilet.

Others had untreated effluent come up through drains into their gardens.

Anglian Water, which has been invited by MP Duncan Baker to the meeting later, has been asked to comment.

Dee and Bill Wells had been using the public toilet until a hire contractor donated a portable toilet to their home

Dee Wells, 73, who lives on Staithe Road, said: "This reminded me of my childhood, when the toilet was outside and you went out there in all weathers.

"But this time the toilet wasn't just outside. We had to use the public toilets which were five minutes' walk down the road."

Stephen Adkins, 61, with his wife Sue, have been rallying the community's response to present at the meeting.

Steve Adkins and his wife have coordinated responses from villagers to present to the meeting

It will bring together stakeholders including Anglian Water, the Internal Drainage Board, Environment Agency and Norfolk County Council.

"Ultimately, the assets we have in this village are not fit for purpose and we have a lot of flooding and a lot of effluent running through our streets to our houses and into the broad," he said.

"We would like them to upgrade all the assets and bring it up to modern day because it's just not fit for purpose as it stands at the moment."

Neighbours Martin Mould, 55, and Julian Jefferies, 53, have been digging out ditches around their properties, and installing several pumps to keep water levels lower and away from homes.

Martin Mould and his neighbour have been pumping raw sewage from ditches surrounding their properties

Between them, they estimated they have spent up to £13,000 on equipment and fuel to run pumps and generators.

Mr Mould said: "We've got nearly two acres here and it was all underwater and we've had to run the pumps all the time, 24 hours a day to keep the water down because the drainage system doesn't work.

"I'm hoping we can get these parties to at least collaborate and agree some sort of process and plan.

"No one individual party will be able to fix his problem, but I do believe if they worked together, they can come up with a conclusion and a result that the whole system needs upgrading."

The Internal Drainage Board and Norfolk County Council have also been asked to comment.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "We are aware that high water levels have caused unacceptable pollution issues to some residents in the Hickling area and are in contact with Anglian Water to ascertain what steps they are taking to deal with this."