LANCAO

Residents says raw sewage from a new-build estate is repeatedly being pumped out onto their streets.

As shown in a grim video below, soiled loo roll and other waste have been flowing through Whitstable Heights in Whitstable, Kent.

According to local Leigh Hawkins, the problem has been going on since construction on the development began in 2019 and is attracting a lot of rats.

The developers, Hyde Homes, say they’re aware of the issue and have blamed it on residents flushing nappies, sanitary products and wet wipes down the toilet, causing blockages.

They say they have been advising householders on how to dispose of their waste correctly.

Mum of two Leigh, who lives next to the estate, said: ‘It’s disgusting. There are literally lumps of human poo in the road – the smell was just rank, as you can imagine.

‘It’s pure, raw sewage running down the road. It was running all down into the rainwater drain as well. There was tissue all up the road.

‘I’ve lived here for 12 years and this never happened until the estate went up.’

Leigh said she was on her way to see a friend who recently bought a home on the estate when the sewage stopped her in her tracks on Sunday.

‘My friends said that it’s happening all the time,’ she added. ‘Every six weeks her drains are blocked.

‘It seems to be a massive issue and it’s getting worse and worse.’

The resident has a 10 and a 15-year-old and says many children live in the estate, which is used regularly by dog walkers, including herself.

She added: ‘Luckily it was a rainy day so the kids weren’t playing outside.’

Leigh said the issue, which has left her own drains blocked, has attracted numerous rats.

She added: ‘It’s disgusting. They’re coming up through the drains and everything. I’ve never seen so many.

‘They’re literally running rampant through the sewage system.

‘I think it’s flooding one end, then they’re trying to escape the water.

‘I’ve never known it to be this bad with the rats and the sewage. Never.’

Once complete, Whitstable Heights will feature 400 homes ranging between two, three and four bedrooms.

A spokeswoman for Hyde Homes said: ‘We know how distressing this has been for customers, which is why we’ve investigated this issue quickly when it happened at the weekend.

‘Southern Water dealt with the initial clearance, and on Monday morning our site team then jet washed and disinfected the affected area, leaving everything clean and tidy.

‘We can reassure our residents that the drainage system is in good order and has sufficient capacity for the entire development.

‘The flooding was localised to one part of the site and the cause was traced back to a specific blockage caused by nappies, wipes and sanitary products.

‘Once cleared, the drains are now free-flowing and functioning normally.

‘Unfortunately, there have been three similar incidents over the last couple of years.

‘We’re working with the community, advising them of the issues caused, and reminding them of the correct way to dispose of rubbish.’

Southern Water does not have responsibility for the drains buthelps with the clean-ups.

A spokesman said: ‘The manhole isn’t one of our assets.

‘It is a private manhole so the housing company and the developer are responsible.

‘However, we helped resolve this issue as it was polluting our surface water network and impacting the local area.’

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