By Mal Butler
A Ryde family has been battling with regular sewage overflows in their back garden for the last six years.
Sara and Martin Coombes live at their rented property in Upton Road, and have to suffer, on average twice a year, with the sewage coming up from a drain in the road, soaking into their garden shed and trellising along with a foul stench.
They live in their rented house with their grown-up son and four dogs, two cats, and a tortoise, and Sara said: “It’s been a constant nightmare. We have continually reported it to the estate agents, who send someone around to clean it all up, but nothing properly was ever done about it.
“It has happened repeatedly, and initially we were told it was down to tree roots in the garden, and then toilet paper, but every time it was cleared, it just kept coming back. It happened again recently in the hot weather, and we just couldn’t live with the smell.
“This time we didn’t bother with the estate agent, and contacted the Rod Father who looked into it properly, and he said it was a Southern Water problem in the road and had nothing to do with us.
“We phoned them but they weren’t particularly helpful before finally sending someone around. A few years ago, seven or eight extra houses were built on Windmill Close; however, there is only a six-inch underground tube for the waste from there down to Upton Road.
“Apparently there is a T-junction pipe so the waste gets stuck there, and it comes up in our garden. Southern Water initially started to dig up the road three or four weeks ago, and found the whole pipe had to be descaled with part of it replaced to have a diverter put in, but they couldn’t finish the job and said they would return, so we’re waiting again.
“Now we don’t know when they will be back to repair it properly. In the meantime, we have to put up with the toxic fumes which had affected my asthma as well as our pets.”
Asked why they continued to live at the property, Sarah replied: “It’s surrounded by countryside, and it’s terribly difficult to get rented property in the area, especially one which takes pets, so it’s unlikely we would be able to find anywhere else. We just want this over so we can get on with our lives.”
Their case has been supported by Haylands & Swanmore IW councillor, Les Kirkby, who said: “Southern Water have been coming on and off over the last few years, but always maintained the problem was nothing to do with them.
“After it was inspected by the Rod Father, they came back again and dug up the road, putting in a camera which showed the whole pipe needed descaling.
“They returned again on Monday, and have now told Sara and Martin that further work will take another three or four weeks, and I’ve been told that there could be more sewage coming up in that period.”
A Southern Water spokesman said: “We’re very sorry that this customer experienced external sewer flooding at their property, and we understand incidents of this nature can be extremely distressing and upsetting.
“We’re investigating the circumstances surrounding what happened, and will carry out a full review to determine if any lessons can be learned. We remain in contact with the customer to provide support, and are liaising with the customer’s insurance provider regarding this incident.”
Isle of Wight Observer