Holding their noses for a little longer

1:19pm Wednesday 15th August 2007

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Action is promised by Thames Water on the notorious "Berrylands pong" - but not until next year.

The company has agreed to develop a programme of works to combat what residents described as the "largest environmental issue in the borough".

�This is the largest environmental issue in Kingston. It affects more than 1,000 people so we wanted the council to take notice of the seriousness of the problem.�

Anthony Robinson

New Malden Air, a new community group, has been set up by two New Malden residents who decided that something had to be done to stop the foul smells coming from the Hogsmill sewage works in Berrylands.

Co-founder Anthony Robinson said: "This is the largest environmental issue in Kingston. It affects more than 1,000 people so we wanted the council to take notice of the seriousness of the problem."

The group set up a website and distributed leaflets in the area, urging people to complain. It has also handed in a petition with more than 500 signatures to the council, demanding it takes enforcement action. The website also directs people's complaints directly to Thames Water.

Thames Water said it would develop a programme of works to help to reduce the smell.

A spokesman said: "We have had a few complaints and we know people are upset in the area. I have spoken to the site manager and it is at the top of his priorities at the moment, so there is a programme being developed to deal with the problem."

He added that part of the problem was that flooding in July caused some internal spillage which was difficult to clean because of the rock-like structure of some of the sewage works. It plans to replace the rocks with concrete blocks to prevent this happening again.

Other proposed improvements include increased staffing at the weekend, and covering over more of the site so the bad odour is contained.

But the people who have complained will have to wait until next year for any improvements.

The spokesman for Thames Water said: "The long-term improvements will be implemented at the beginning of next year. We are within our compliance limits set by the Environment Agency. We are doing this because we want to improve things for customers."

See newmaldenair.org.uk for more information about the group.

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