Southern Water get Go-Ahead for Drainage Scheme

Residents in New Romney, Greatstone & Lydd-on-Sea are to benefit from mains drainage for the first time after Southern Water was given the go-ahead to lay sewers. Connections to the new drainage system will take place over the next two years. Local Liberal Democrats have welcomed the go-ahead, but continue to question the cost to householders to be connected to the new service. It is likely that householders will be asked to pay a significant bill for connection.

Kent County Council planners have given Southern Water the go-ahead to lay 35km of sewers in the two towns with the potential to take away and treat wastewater from 1,900 properties in a multi-million pound scheme. It will bring an end to the disruption caused by tankers emptying cesspits and septic tanks. Southern Water will start installing the sewers by the end of August.

Earlier this year research by Lib Dem campaigner Peter Carroll revealed that whilst residents are having to pay several thousand pounds to connect to the long awaited new mains drainage system, residents in other areas of the UK are getting connection for only a token fee.

The issue relates to the 'lateral pipes' that run from the houses to the new main sewer in the middle of the road. In New Romney, Greatstone & Lydd-on-Sea, Southern Water are making people pay for these pipes. In East Anglia, Anglia Water are providing them almost free of charge.

Peter said:

"Anglia Water are installing systems and are not making people pay for the lateral pipes that run from the house to the new main sewer. If this approach can be made to work for the people of East Anglia - why can't it be made to work for the people on the Marsh?

"I can't understand this even from a commercial point of view. If Southern Water did not make people pay for the lateral pipes, more local people would be able to join up. In this way, Southern Water would have the benefit of more people paying their annual sewage charge - so this should be a 'win win' outcome both for Southern Water and local people."

The company and its contractors, 4 Delivery, will be holding public exhibitions in August so that property owners can find out when the public sewer will be laid in their area and what action they need to take to get connected.

In addition, Southern Water and 4 Delivery will be writing to households to advise them that the scheme will be carried out and how it will affect them.