Tarvin residents report raw sewage running down village road as Antler Homes pledge to clean up drainage problems

Jul 15 2010 by Ben Coulbeck, Chester Chronicle

VILLAGERS in Tarvin are still living with the foul smell of raw sewage.

Residents living close to a recently-built housing development off Tarporley Road say they have seen human waste running across a road.

Despite attempts to stop the spread of waste water, locally-held fears about health and safety have been raised.

A villager, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We could actually see sewage running down Tarporley Road from the surcharge cover.

“I reported it and a few hours later a tanker turned up. The problem is that the sewage had already been running into the surface drains and into the open ditch.

“It does smell and the ditch is in a terrible state.”

Last month, The Chronicle revealed how a mix-up between Antler Homes and United Utilities had led to waste water being pumped from houses into the ditch which runs across farmland and supplies Milton Brook, a tributary of the River Gowy.

Antler Homes spokesman Tim Trueman reassured residents that a solution had been agreed and sewerage work would start tomorrow.

He said: “Antler Homes has been working, along with United Utilities and Cheshire West and Chester Council, to rectify the situation relating to foul water discharge, in co-operation with the Environment Agency, who have been kept fully informed throughout the process.

“The sewerage scheme has been redesigned and approved by United Utilities and the anticipated start date is July 15.

“Antler Homes remains committed to resolving the issues in relation to this cross connection.”