The Environment Agency has objected to plans for a large housing development just north of Oxford because they believe the Thames Water sewer network will not cope with the extra load.

An article in today’s Guardian says:

‘Thames Water’s treatment plant in Oxford has been illegally discharging sewage for six years, causing significant risk to the rivers and environment from pollution, the EA has said.

‘The increased pressure on the sewage infrastructure from 1,450 new houses planned to the north of Oxford would pose an unacceptable risk of pollution into waterways, the agency said in a letter of objection.

‘It warned it was “not acceptable” for a new housing development to go ahead until Thames Water had carried out the required investment to bring the works within legal limits.’

In recent weeks we have seen dilute sewage leaking out of manhole covers at various locations in west Oxford. We’ve also seen houses and businesses flooded by sewage. All of this sewage is then washing into the local river system. We have asked Thames Water to explain what is going on and what hey plan to do about it but have so far had no adequate response. We have raised the issue with Layla Moran MP.

Without serious investments by Thames Water, more development in the city will result in increased risk of sewer flooding for local residents, and more discharges of sewage polluting our rivers. We must have independent proof that improvements Thames Water plan to make at the Oxford Sewage Treatment Works are adequate and that the company is meeting its legal obligations before more connections are made to the system.

Oxford Flood Alliance welcomes this intervention by the EA.