'Preventative maintenance works' after another sewage stink on Biggleswade's Dunton Lane

Central Bedfordshire Council contractors have been on site using tankers to "remove sewage and prevent further spills" – and says repairs were finished on Thursday (October 22).

The leak reportedly began on October 15 – and it is understood that a faulty control panel was to blame.

The council has apologised for the disruption caused and is working on "additional preventative maintenance works".

Reporting the issue online, Central Bedfordshire Councillor Hayley Whitaker (Biggleswade West) stated: "In the past the pumps have broken because large items, such has mop heads, have found their way into the sewers and fouled the pumps.

"This time the pumps are working fine, it is the control panel that is suffering a malfunction."

Human waste leaked onto the road during August and September due to a problem with Dunton Lane Pumping Station’s electricity supply – as its pumps kept tripping out.

Cllr Whitaker added: "You may recall this pumping station has a rather chequered history of needing repairs and has broken three times in recent months.

"The pumping station does not serve any homes, it only services the Stratton Business Park which includes some very large 24 hour businesses – it’s a lot of sewage."

A spokeswoman for Central Bedfordshire Council said: "We're sorry for the disruption caused by the sewage leak on Dunton Lane and understand the frustration this has caused for local residents and businesses.

"Our contractors have been on site throughout the week, using tankers to remove sewage and prevent further spills while the problem was investigated.

"Once sewage levels had reduced sufficiently to allow safe access, specialist engineers attended on Thursday and completed repairs to the pumping equipment, restoring full operation.

"The engineers also identified some additional preventative maintenance works, and we are working with our contractors to carry these out as soon as possible.”

It is understood that Anglian Water will adopt this pump in the future as part of its wider sewage network.