Anger as foul stream of sewage by Havant B&Q store still not resolved
B&Q hopes the situation will be resolved this week
A foul stream of sewage by a B&Q store causing a “health risk” and anger still has not been resolved - but the store said action will soon be taken.
As reported last month, the waste was located by an off-premise pump station by the Havant store in Purbrook Way - with drivers being forced to drive through it.
Efforts to resolve the mess had proved frustrating with Southern Water, Havant Borough Council and B&Q “not interested” initially, according to a resident.
B&Q previously it was working with a contractor to clean it up as a “priority” - but three weeks later no action has been taken to remove the sewage. “The problem hasn't been sorted. Sewage is still flowing across the road. I don't know what will be done about it as no one is taking responsibility for the problem,” the resident said.
The local previously said: “It is a health risk to the public and no one is taking responsibility for it. I see it as a form of fly-tipping on a public place with environmental concerns to the wildlife in the vicinity and the public that have to drive through it.
“This has been going on for weeks and no one is taking responsibility for it.”
Havant council’s environmental health said it was unable to resolve the situation as it was a matter for Southern Water as the “sewage undertaker”. An email from the council added: “I appreciate this situation is unpleasant particularly given the odour and apparent presence of sewage on or near the highway.”
Amid questions over whose responsibility it was to deal with the mess, a B&Q spokesperson then said: “As soon as B&Q were made aware of the leak from the off-premise pump station, engineers were deployed to assess the situation and extent of repairs. Following this, we are working with a drainage contractor to address the issue as a priority.”
Now, in an update after questions were raised over the lack of action, a B&Q spokesperson said: “The council has now granted permission for our maintenance team to carry out the necessary work to address the leak. We anticipate that the issue will be resolved this week."