Sewage Crisis in Gloucestershire Villages: Streets Flooded Amid Housing Expansion Concerns

Residents in the Gloucestershire villages of Twigworth, Innsworth, and Longford are grappling with severe sewage flooding as their ageing sewerage systems collapse under the strain of substantial new housing developments. Fields, footpaths, and even streets have been “flooded with excrement” for more than two weeks, sparking outrage and serious health concerns among locals.

Villagers have witnessed sewage bubbling up in fields and report a pervasive, unmistakable stench that has turned once peaceful rural paths into unpleasant and hazardous areas. The council has dispatched tankers to extract the overflowing waste from manholes in residential areas, which has introduced additional noise and disruptions.

Residents claim that despite repeated requests, local authorities and tanker operators have provided little information or timelines for resolution. Longford Parish Councillor Rick Harris voiced frustration over the lack of communication, questioning whether this crisis is set to become a permanent issue.

In Twigworth, where two separate sewerage networks exist, both have faced serious issues: one network has been failing for decades, while the other, despite being nearly new, is also under stress. The local parish council has repeatedly sought updates on the Longford pumping station, suspected to be at the heart of the problem, but responses have been notably absent.

George Sharpley, chairman of Twigworth Parish Council, emphasized their demands: immediate updates on the current emergency, and a halt on further housing developments until the sewerage problems are fully resolved. The absence of clear answers has ignited anger and anxiety throughout the communities.

Local government officials acknowledge the problem, with Councillor Sarah Hands confirming that the Environment Agency is leading investigations. She highlighted ongoing collaboration between the council, the Environment Agency, and Severn Trent Water (STW), the company responsible for maintaining drainage and wastewater facilities, which is also consulted on all relevant planning applications.

Severn Trent Water has stated that they have invested significantly since 2020 to enhance the network’s capacity, including major upgrades to treatment works and pumping stations. They maintain that their system is functioning correctly and attribute the recent flooding to an underlying issue unrelated to capacity. As a temporary measure, tankers continue to manage the excess sewage while a permanent solution is developed in partnership with local developers and authorities.

The situation spotlights the urgent need for infrastructure that keeps pace with rapid housing growth, with residents demanding accountability and immediate action to protect their communities from ongoing environmental and health hazards.