Fed-up mum kicks up a stink over four months of stench from drain
jpco-6-3-13 Joanne Davis is complaining the sewers outside her house have been blocked for the last four month (Pic by Jon Rigby)
A mother has been suffering from nausea because of a sewage drain blockage outside her home.
Joanne Davis, from Seaford Road, Broadfield, said she and her eight-year-old daughter Ellie have been feeling sick because of the smell of sewage which has been building up for four months.
She said: “I have to have candles burning permanently within my house. Me and Ellie have both been feeling sick from the smell and I’ve even been suffering headaches.
“It’s been four months of continual stench. It’s not acceptable.
“The whole stretch of road are suffering from the smell.
“Me and another neighbour ring Thames Water two to three times a week. I told Thames Water that if it gets any worse I’m not going to be able to keep living in my home.
“Because the smell is right by my front door we are having to use the back door.”
She added: “Thames Water have been three to four times a week clearing drains.
“A few weeks ago they were out every day trying to get rid of the blockage and it’s just not working.
“They came between 10.30 and 11 at night trying to clear the drains.
“One of the neighbours has got a baby and they were parked outside their house. The engine was constantly ticking over and the lights were on.”
Joanne said another couple has complained the smell came in to their home through the back door.
She said: “They have to leave it open sometimes when they want to take out the washing.
“I’m worried about when it warms up because I can’t open my windows.”
A spokesperson for Thames Water said: “We would like to apologise for the length of time it has taken to find the cause of the problem.
“We have been investigating this since April last year and yesterday confirmed the cause to be a collapsed sewer. The repairs started yesterday (Tuesday March 5).
“This should have been resolved sooner but our focus now is to get the problem sorted as soon as we can.”
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Weather for Crawley
Thursday 23 May 2013
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