The Parish Council has set up a drainage and sewerage working group of two councillors, Di Warne and Garry Deeks to focus on the long standing drainage and sewage issues facing the village .
The agencies involved in responding to the issues are :
- Anglian Water
- The Environment Agency
- Mid Suffolk District Council Planning and Environmental Health
- Ofwat
- Public Health England
- Suffolk County Council: Flood Risk Management, Flood reporting, Public Health
- Suffolk Highways
- Suffolk District and County Councillors
- Suffolk Wildlife
- The Water Council
The notes of the groups meetings can be read on this page.
There was a public meeting on 19th November 2019 where Anglian Water reported back from their initial survey of drainage. The working group has scheduled further meetings with Anglian Water and other agencies involved in order to get a resolution to the issues. Reports from these meetings will be published by the Parish Council.
All residents have a part to play. It is important that residents report on flooding and sewage egress issues. It is relevant to all parts of the village. These reports build up the evidence of just how serious the issues are.
It is easy to do at the following links:
Flooding to Suffolk County Council https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/flooding-and-drainage/report-a-flood-in-suffolk/
River pollution to the Environment Agency; https://www.gov.uk/report-an-environmental-incident
Egress of sewage to Anglian Water; https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/help-and-advice/faqs/how-can-i-make-a-complaint/
It would also be very helpful if residents make a report that they send a brief e.mail to one the parish councillors to let them know they have reported an issue. This way we can record the number of complaints being logged.
Also please take time to look at the https://fressingfieldhousing.org/ website where there are regular updates on the drainage and sewage issues including graphic photographs.
Notes from Fressingfield Drainage and Sewerage Group Meeting 10th Jan 2020.
The meeting took place with Anglian Water representatives and Suffolk County Council Flood Risk Management .
Anglian Water have to date investigated flooding issues on New Street and at the Swan Public House.
They do not yet know where surface water run-off is getting into the sewer system, causing the egress in Low Road.
They say they will continue to investigate, and report back.
When there is heavy or persistent rain the Beck overflows, flooding the road adding to the sewage outpouring and spread .
The Beck, along with other water courses, ditches and culverts, throughout the village come under the remit of Riparian Ownership. Ownership of watercourses is not always clear and some of you may be responsible for parts of a watercourse.
A very useful link to understand the nature of Riperian Ownership can be found at :
http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/riparian-ownership
Anyone with a watercourse on the boundary of their property or land, or running through their property is advised to look at this link.
Where you experience flooding, either from a watercourse or from the highways you are advised to report this to Suffolk County Council Flood Management:
http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/flooding
All householders have a responsibility to prevent flooding and manage their water flow. You should take this into account when adding extensions and conservatories as water from these buildings adds to the volume of surface water.
It is evident that more information is needed about the drainage from Highways.
A future meeting with highways is being organised.
It is also evident there are numerous historical surface water connections to the foul sewer. These may or may not be legal and not all are known.
D Warne.
Flooding and Sewage Egress- Yet Again
On Friday 20th December 2019 once again there was severe sewage egress and overflow of the Beck. Three manhole covers lifted. Human waste and loo paper were clearly visible and widely dispersed over the road and walkways. They also flowed into the Beck , so polluting the water course. All of the relevant Agencies were informed.
The sewage egress was not associated with heavy rainfall, but persistent low intensity rain. In view of the mitigation proposed regarding sewage egress we have kept a close observation on the flow times at the manhole in Low Road. Egress of sewage was first noticed at 7.30am. (but may have been occurring much earlier) At 5.30pm it was still flowing and when observed by torch light at 11.00 pm it was still flowing ( a total period in excess of 15.5hours). The next day at 11am there was still discharge from the same sewer despite only minimal short term rain. ( Total 27.5 hours- video verification available).
Malodorus smell extended up Church Hill as far as the church and up Back Street to the Swan.
On this occasion the Beck overtopped so the contamination was widespread. The flooding occurred from the War Memorial to the Baptist Chapel.
On Saturday 21st December at Team from Claret/Anglian Water came to clean up and investigate. The overflowing chamber was full the water ammonia level was 3 ( N 0- 10). They reported that the pumping station was working , but was overwhelmed due to high flows. A ” clean up” of three contaminated areas of highway was undertaken. ( job number 57014585)
There have now been 9 episodes of sewage egress in the last 2 years and this is the fifth since 1st October 2019.
22 December 2019
If you have any information, questions or concerns to pass on to the working group please contact Di Warne dwarne.fresspc@gmail.com
Or
Garry Deeks gdeeks.fresspc@gmail.com
