Residents in Swallowfield are being let down, by ongoing disruption caused by Thames Water, said Wokingham MP Clive Jones, who is now publicly calling for an urgent meeting with the company’s bosses.
For weeks, large pumping tankers have been operating in and around Swallowfield, causing road blockages, noise, and bright lights day and night. While the pumping is stopping sewage from overflowing, Mr Jones says it is only needed because the village’s sewer system cannot cope.
During a visit to Swallowfield to see first-hand what is happening and to meet residents affected,
Jones said: “This situation is not acceptable. Residents are paying the price for a sewer system that is clearly not fit for purpose. Temporary pumping cannot be the long-term answer.”
He has been working with local councillors to reduce the impact on residents, including keeping local bus services running. However, he says the disruption cannot continue indefinitely.
“Thames Water has a duty to invest in its network so it can handle normal levels of water.
“Right now, Swallowfield is suffering because they failed to plan.
“Thames Water has paid millions to shareholders at a time when they should have been investing in infrastructure that would prevent issues like this.”
Jones has asked to meet Thames Water to push for the removal of the tankers and a permanent fix to the sewage capacity problem. He said the company has so far failed to arrange a meeting.
“If Thames Water can’t even find time to meet, that shows a lack of respect for local people. I will keep pressing until they take this seriously,” he concluded.
A Thames Water spokesperson told Wokingham Today: “We apologise to residents of Swallowfield who are experiencing disruption due to our tankering operations.
“Reading and its surrounding areas, including Swallowfield, have experienced heavy rain over the past few weeks, including being 148% above the long term average for February, which has caused the Loddon and Blackwater rivers to burst their banks.
“While we have paused an essential repair to a sewer on Swallowfield Street due to the river levels being too high, tankering is essential to prevent further flooding and damage to homes and the environment.
“We will continue work on the essential repairs once river levels have dropped and the ground is dry enough for our equipment to access the site safely.
“We are also undertaking the biggest upgrade to our network in 150 years.”
