A MISCONNECTION of sewage pipes in the centre of Pershore has caused a stink, leading to untreated waste entering the town’s culvert system which poses a health hazard.
For many months, Pershore Town Council has received complaints about persistent blockages in the culvert, at King George’s Playing Field caused in part by an error in the connection of sewage pipes from a local residential development.
Instead of being routed correctly, it is understood that the system has been linked into the wrong drain, leading to raw sewage regularly entering the culvert.
In addition, excessive overgrowth and debris has obstructed the water’s natural flow into the River Avon, creating stagnant pools that have looked and smelt appalling, particularly over the summer.
Despite repeated reports and calls for Severn Trent to take action by the town clerk Charlie MacIntyre to get Severn Trent to take action, the problem is still unresolved and poses ‘environmental, aesthetic, and public health concerns for local residents’.
“This is not only an eyesore for our community but a genuine health hazard,” said Mrs MacIntyre.
“We have made multiple attempts to engage with Severn Trent and urge them to take responsibility for their infrastructure, but the lack of action is nothing short of disgraceful.”
The council is currently working with Wychavon District Council to explore improvement plans for the affected area as part of a wider regeneration initiative, but progress has been severely hindered by Severn Trent’s inaction, she explained.
“We are proud of our town and want to enhance its appearance and environment,” added Mrs MacIntyre. “However, these ongoing sewage issues undermine every effort we make.
“Severn Trent must step up, take accountability, and deliver the urgent repairs and maintenance Pershore deserves.”
A Severn Trent confirmed that it had now undertaken work to clear the culvert.
A spokesperson said: “The issues here are due to a misconnection to the network that is not the responsibility of Severn Trent, however, we are working hard to rectify it.”
“While it is a complex issue to fix, we want to reassure the council and customers that we are engaging with a number of partners and stakeholders to get the misconnection sorted and put everything right as quickly as possible.
“We understand issues like this are unpleasant, but we’d like to thank everyone for their patience while this is ongoing.”
