Campaigners' joy at sewage fight victory
Campaigners have won a 25-year battle for sewerage improvement works in a village in Shropshire after officials revealed they would be investing £1 million in the area.
Welsh Water bosses told a public meeting in St Martins, near Oswestry, the money would be spent on improving pipeworks and the sewerage infrastructure in the village, with work starting next month.
The extensive work programme will last until March next year.
Campaigners said they were 'delighted' to have finally won their long fight.
More than 40 people attended the public meeting to hear Welsh Water say the £1 million investment would alleviate the sewage problems and would also cope with the demand from more houses as they are built in the village.
Problems have included toilets regularly blocking and sewage overflowing.
Glen Pennington, from the 3 Parish Water Forum, said: "We are delighted Welsh Water is at last making this investment. We have been calling for it for so long.
"The work will cause some inconvenience but will be well worth it in the long run because this is for the benefit of the community.
"It is very welcome news and we are not expecting it at all before the meeting."
Mr Pennington said Welsh Water had recognised the sewerage system was overloaded.
The problems have particularly affected two areas – at Overton Road and near the village's chip shop.
Mr Pennington said Welsh Water had agreed to keep the community up do date with the progress of the work.
He said: "They said at the meeting they would have regular meetings with us so we know how things are going.
It will be vital for us to stay in communication with them."
The campaigner said infrastructure improvements would allow developers get on with building more houses in the village.
