'Permanent repair afoot' for Biggleswade pumping station after sewage leaks

The pumping station is owned by Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC), and serves Stratton Business Park, but it caused a stink last week as sewage was reported oozing onto the road.

Central Bedfordshire Councillor Hayley Whitaker told the Chronicle that plans are afoot for a permanent fix – and the Chronicle has reached out to CBC for a comment.

Councillor Whitaker said: "This time there is a problem with the electricity supply; the pumps keep tripping out.

"CBC are getting quotes to have a proper repair done – a permanent repair – and at the moment they should be working."

Cllr Whitaker was made aware of the problem on Wednesday evening (August 19) and says that council contractors visited the site on Thursday.

She says she was then informed by CBC on Friday that it was working on a long-term solution.

Councillor Whitaker added: "It happened a couple of weeks ago as well, so it's a recurring issue.

"It's quite a fast road – people go at 60mph along this little country lane. Then they drive through a puddle of sewage, and the next thing they know, there's a horrible stink."

It is understood that the pumping station has leaked in the past due to inappropriate items in the drains – such as mop heads.

One resident even claimed on social media that it caused her tap water to stink of "rotten eggs".

In December 2023, raw sewage was reported leaking from a manhole and running down the side of Dunton Lane.

Reports at the time linked it to the industrial area on the south side of Dunton Lane, with residents complaining of the horrendous smell and that it was "not nice driving through it daily".

And in January 2024 questions were raised over why a 400m stretch of "stinky" sewage in Biggleswade took over a month to clean up.

Cllr Whitaker advises anyone with concerns – or new sightings of sewage – to contact CBC customer services.