Causing a stink: MP puts pressure on sewage firm

3:38pm Thursday 9th November 2006

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Residents who want something done about the "Berrylands pong" are being urged to phone Thames Water's customer care number.

The MP for Kingston and Surbiton Edward Davey has been sniffing out the problem at the Hogsmill sewage works, holding an on-site meeting with Thames Water.

Mr Davey and Councillor Penny Shelton met managers on Friday, October 27, armed with reports from residents of the area's odour over the summer.

Thames Water admitted before the meeting that it had commissioned a special independent odour survey and was now implementing the list of recommendations.

Mr Davey said: "Thames Water is now fully-focused on this problem and is promising to take seriously the odours from the Hogsmill site.

"I have made it clear that I will be monitoring the situation closely, as the level of complaints from residents over the last year or so shows this situation has got worse."

The first plan for Thames Water is a complete cleaning of the tunnel which links the old sewage site in Worcester Park to the Hogsmill site. The company agreed to give Mr Davey a further update and a schedule for proposed maintenance.

Mr Davey urged residents who smell an odour from the site to contact its customer care number on 0845 920 0800 immediately with their location.

The company has a duty to log all reports and act on them if there is an obvious pattern in a short timescale.

Mr Davey added: "If residents provide their postcode, they will have access to an automated bulletin board that reports any maintenance work that may be causing a problem.

"We need to win the case for extra investment, so if we, as a community, give Thames Water full details of the date, time and duration of any odours, we can enhance the chances of a solution to this longstanding problem.

"I would also be grateful to receive reports as well, so I can monitor the situation."

In October of last year, then-leader of the Conservative group Kevin Davis said Thames Water should be issued with an abatement notice over the smell, which he described as a public nuisance.