Sewage overflows once again in flood-hit village
Heavy weekend rains brought more misery for a village plagued with drainage problems.
Sewage was seen coming from manhole covers at Fressingfield last Sunday, just five days after a similar incident.
According to the Safe (Supporters Against Fressingfield Expansion) website, seven manhole covers were lifted and were leaking sewage on Sunday.
Only a day after Suffolk County Council highways had cleared surface water drains, sewage and sanitary products were seen coming from manholes.
Low Road is especially affected by the flooding, and particularly an area opposite the Baptist chapel, according to the website.
Safe secretary Pam Castro said the situation was caused by surface water connections which had been made to the foul sewer in the past.
At times of heavy rain, the sewer filled up, and resulted in sewage overflowing.
If large-scale housing developments were allowed, more sewage would enter the drainage system and Sunday’s flooding would occur more often, she said.
“We are not against all development. We are not against one or two houses, but 10 houses or more is not fair on the village.”
An Anglian Water spokesman said: “A large amount of rainfall fell in a short period of time on Sunday, with more on Monday. Intense rainfall can cause standing water to build up on hard surfaces because there’s nowhere for it to go, causing surface water flooding.
“It also means our sewers become full while they move water away – it’s a bit like a bath plughole, and it takes time for the water to drain.
“We will continue working with our drainage partners, including the local council, highways team and Environment Agency, to ensure our sewer network is running as it should, helping to take water away as quickly as possible.”
Villagers say that flooding and sewerage problems have been a problem for more than 20 years – and are getting worse.
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Last week, the Diss Express reported that a planning appeal for 24 homes in Postmill Lane, Fressingfield, had been refused because the development would erode the open countryside.