Following my visit last Tuesday to the areas of Bognor Regis affected by last weekend’s floods, on Friday I visited parts of Middleton-on-Sea that were not only affected by the flooding caused by the excessive rainfall but also suffered sewage backing up into people’s toilets and gardens.
I have written to Southern Water asking for an explanation as to why the Ancton Lane pumping station was shut down and why, when it was shut down, tankers were not sent to transport effluent to a sewage treatment plant.
I’m also concerned about sewage that flowed out of manholes in particular Middleton streets and gardens. It is clear that the sewerage system does not have sufficient capacity to deal with sewage flows when there is a high level of surface water. I’ve asked for a meeting with Southern Water, the Environment Agency and local residents to discuss changes and upgrades that Southern Water need to make, not just in Middleton but in all the affected parts of Bognor Regis, including Shripney, Aldwick, Felpham and Pagham.
Photo 1: Talking to a resident of the Riverside Caravan Centre in Shripney Road
Photo 2: The garden of a Middleton resident. The sludge is sewage from the manhole. The photo was taken on Friday but sewage has continued to be emitted from the manhole on Saturday night/Sunday morning.
Photo 3: The car park at Tesco’s in Shripney Road.