Toot Baldon plans pumping stations to fight sewage odour

Toot Baldon has a population of about 150

Villagers living with bad smells from stuttering septic tanks may soon be able to open their windows again if a new sewerage system is approved.

Plans have been submitted for two new pumping stations to tackle the odour traumas of Toot Baldon, near Oxford.

Thames Water said there was "clear evidence" of problems with the existing private systems.

If approved, the pumping stations would provide public sewers for more than 50 properties within the village.

'Failing septic tanks'

Households in the village are not connected to a mains sewerage system, with residents using private drainage consisting mostly of septic tanks.

In its planning statement, Thames Water said: "Residents have reported problems as a result of failing septic tanks and the ground water level is frequently excessively high for proper operation of soakage field systems."

The company also referenced reports of "odour problems" and "pollution of ditches and watercourses".

One of the proposed stations would sit on green belt farmland between the A4074 and the B480.

The other would lie to the east of Old School Road running through Baldon Row.

A decision is expected to be made on 8 January.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].