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Gedling borough residents putting up with “unacceptable” sewage

Water company Severn Trent runs the pipe network that is responsible for the overflows

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There were 262 sewage discharges from storm overflows in Gedling borough last year, according to data compiled by Rivers Trust.

Water company Severn Trent runs the pipe network that is responsible for the overflows, which it says is necessary to avoid homes and properties being flooded.

But residents say the almost regular dumping is “unacceptable” and the smell worsens upstream.

An overflow at Ouse Dyke close to Burton Road in Carlton had the most discharges in the figures with 45.

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Inn for a Penny manager Jamie Huckerby

“It definitely does smell,” said Jamie Huckerby, who runs the Inn For a Penny pub, close to the outflow on Burton Road.

Jamie has been in charge at the pub since January.

He says the stench has not been enough to put customers off their pints yet but is worried that could change in warmer weather.

“I’m a bit worried about people sitting outside in summer when it gets a bit hotter because it might smell more,” he added.

The Rivers Trust figures come from government data that tracks how often overflows are used to cope with excess rainfall.

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The most recent stats cover the 2021-22 financial year.

Caroline Kordecki is a Stoke Bardolph resident who works at the University of Nottingham and regularly walks her dog Summer in the area.

But she says recently “it just looks dirtier”, so much so that she has changed her dog walking patterns.

“I find I’m doing it less and less,” said Caroline.

“I worry about her swallowing the water and getting ill.”

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Caroline is also concerned about the impact it could have on wildlife, saying she has already noticed a difference.

She added: “I haven’t seen as many herons in the river lately, we used to see them all the time, but now it’s very rare.

“I wonder what kind of wildlife there will be when my grandchildren grow up, what kind of world are they going to live in.”

Caroline says she has signed petitions and contacted her local MP.

“I don’t know what it takes for them to realise that this is not acceptable,” she said.

“I’m so sick of it and not getting anywhere.”

Summer the dog who belongs to Caroline Kordecki

Gedling’s MP, Tom Randall, who is a member of the Conservative Party said that the storm overflows are a “long-standing issue” which is “unacceptable”

However, he said: “The government has instructed water companies to undertake the largest investment in water company history, balancing the importance of taking action, particularly for protected sites and bathing waters, with the effects on customers’ bills.”

A spokesperson for Severn Trent said: “We understand why people feel let down by water companies when it comes to rivers, we know what needs to be done to make it right and we’re doing it.

Ouse Dyke

“We’re delivering an industry-leading plan that includes bold commitments, such as by 2030 our operations will cause no harm to rivers.   
“In the first year of this plan, we’ve reduced our impact by a third, but we know there’s more to do, which is why we’re continuing to invest hundreds of millions of pounds into making rivers the healthiest they can be.”  

Water UK, the industry body who represents the nine of England’s sewage and water companies, including Severn Trent, issued a statement apologising this morning, May 18.

The Water UK chair, Ruth Kelly said: “We’re sorry about the upset and the anger from the fact that there have been overspills of untreated sewage onto beaches and into rivers over the past few years. We’re sorry that we didn’t act sooner, and but we get it.”

Triple funding has been promised by companies for sewer system upgrades, and by 2030 to cut spills by up to 35%.

Spotted something? Got a story? Email our newsdesk news@gedlingeye.co.uk

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1 COMMENT

  1. It is bloody unacceptable. All we get is an apology. Read on the news today we will have to pay the water companies more to manager sewage – a disgrace!

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