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Resident's anger as 'river of sewage' flows through Surrey Road, Margate

A horrified resident says his street is regularly blighted with a "river of sewage", which he claims is not properly cleaned up.

Steve Floyd lives in Surrey Road in Margate where drains regularly overflow, prompting Southern Water to "pressure wash" the waste away.

The sewage in Surrey Road, Margate a couple of weeks ago. Picture: Steven Floyd
The sewage in Surrey Road, Margate a couple of weeks ago. Picture: Steven Floyd

He said: "They come and unblock the drain, but then they just sort of pressure wash it down the street.

"Then it just pools in the road - there’s sort of a river of sewage flowing down the street.

"It just smells horrible.

"It doesn’t get cleaned up - it’s just left to dry in the road.

"There’s still sewage all over the street, how can that be acceptable?"

The 39-year-old thinks "there must be a better solution" to the problem, which he has reported on four separate occasions.

The sewage flows down the street according to residents. Picture: Steven Floyd
The sewage flows down the street according to residents. Picture: Steven Floyd

"The whole street smells disgusting every day, and not just where the leak is," he said.

"It just pools and collects under the cars, this dark brown, disgusting material."

Mr Floyd is not the only resident of Surrey Road who is appalled by the leaking excrement.

"The neighbours are all horrified too - they just can’t believe it," he said.

"Some of them are keeping their cats inside because there’s just a river of poo in the street and they are worried if the cats eat it, they will get sick."

There are also families with children who like to play football out the front of their homes, he reported.

Sewage pools under cars in Surrey Road, Margate. Picture: Steven Floyd
Sewage pools under cars in Surrey Road, Margate. Picture: Steven Floyd

Mr Floyd, who has lived in the road for four years, explained a new pavement was recently installed which is now "stained brown" from the sewage.

The disgruntled resident would like to see the mess "properly" cleaned by Southern Water.

"It's 2023 and people still have to live like this," he added.

A similar issue was reported in the same town earlier this month, when stinking sewage poured out from a blocked drain in Dane Road, leaving residents horrified.

A Southern Water spokesman told KentOnline: "We are sorry for the distress and inconvenience that a blocked sewer caused for residents in the Surrey Road area of Margate.

"After clearing the blockage, our teams carried out a clean-up using water and disinfectant.

"Unfortunately, where cars are parked, this can be a difficult process.

"We would urge any concerned residents to contact our customer team and we will do what we can to help."

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