Our village is so smelly that we're being told to shove duvets down our toilets – and it's only going to get WORSE
RESIDENTS in a rural village are being plagued by sewage - as a new development could make the problem worse.
Local Parish Councillors have bashed the proposed housing development as the village's infrastructure is already struggling.
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The village of Feniton, Devon, has been plagued by the smell of sewage, with locals encouraged to stuff duvets down their toilets to prevent sewage from overflowing.
Meanwhile, a proposal from South West Strategic Developments Ltd. (SWSD) aims to build 60 new homes in the area.
It has led to intense backlash from Parish Councillors who are more concerned with the village's ongoing problems than its expansion, as they worry the development could make things worse.
Chairman Martyn Smith told DevonLive: "We've got sewage coming up in people's toilets, it's bubbling out onto the roads - and there were even condoms hanging over the edge of a pipe discharging into a flood alleviation ditch.
The sewage problems stem from a Victorian system that wasn't upgraded in line with housing expansion in the area the council alleges.
Councillors added that the Feniton sewage treatment works is one of the worst polluters on the River Otter.
South West Water have admitted to 14 reports of sewage backing up, Martyn says, but councillors believe it to be more than that.
Several councillors are directly impacted by the village's sewage problems which gets worse during heavy rain.
Councillor Chris Wilkins said one woman has reportedly had to ask neighbours not to flush their toilets to prevent sewage from flooding her garden.
The area was previously declared an "unsustainable location" by a planning inspector after a 2014 public inquiry.
Our posh village is now ghost town strewn with empty homes
Several large-scale housing projects were refused on these grounds.
There was one exception to this - 34 new houses that Martyn says "ended in disaster" when the builder went bust as it left the homes half-finished.
Councillor Pam Rink said: "It smells all the time, even when it hasn't rained. With any more building, it just isn't going to cope."
Even a flood alleviation scheme intended to deal with surface water hasn't fixed the problem - as that is reportedly receiving sewage too.
Martyn said that South West Water has alleged that someone is illegally connected into the surface drain, but he adds "that's just deflection."
Despite organising meetings with the sewage company, the villagers have been unable to reach a resolution.
In addition to the heightened burden on sewage, locals also worry about the impact on traffic that the development could bring.
The narrow lane into the town already causes issues for the existing residents, and councillors worry an expansion would only make it worse.
In a statement to DevonLive, South West Water said: 'We recognise the concerns raised by Feniton residents and parish councillors and have met with them to discuss these issues in detail.
'We have investigated reports of sewage problems in the village and carried out maintenance to address blockages.
'We continue to work closely with local authorities and developers to ensure the sewerage system can support future housing, with infrastructure improvements planned as required. We remain committed to protecting the environment and supporting the Feniton community.'
A statement from SWSD reads: 'The application has made in line with the draft allocation of the emerging East Devon Local Plan.
"South West Water is a consultee in this process and have raised no objections to the proposals. They outline that improvements are already being progressed to address the community concerns around the existing systems and increase its capacity.'
The Sun has reached out to Feniton Parish Council for comment.
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