Parish demands action over 'inadequate' sewage network in Bersted

Bersted parish councillors have written to water regulator Ofwat about their fears the network is inadequate.

Parish council clerk Michael Johnson said they wanted Ofwat to ensure Southern Water included an upgrade to the mains drainage system in the company's 2010-2015 capital spending programme.

"Following prolonged or heavy rainfall, raw sewage backs up into houses in certain parts of the village," Mr Johnson told Ofwat.

"A new development of 650 houses is to be connected to the system at the point where most problems occur.

"The problem is exacerbated by the area being at sea level and all sewage being pumped uphill to the treatment plant.

"The pumping station has failed on several occasions in the past few years."