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A Weald couple have spoken of their heartbreak at finding sewage flooding into their historic home for the sixth time - and believe it caused the death of their horse.
Lucy and Lee Harrison live at Copp William Farm, a medieval hall-house built in 1370 which is reputed to be the oldest building in Staplehurst.
But their dream-home in Marden Road has turned into a nightmare - thanks, they say, to a Southern Water pumping station opposite their home.
Mrs Harrison said: "It just can't cope with the quantity of sewage being produced in the village now with all the new housing expansion.
"It frequently trips out or breaks down and when it does, sewage bubbles out and heads for our house."
The couple say the flooding has landed them with thousands of pounds of repair bills - especially since all materials in their listed home have to match the originals. Their insurance claims already exceed £100,000.
But even worse, the couple believe the flooding is responsible for the death of their horse, Buddy, after his paddock was affected by the pollution.
Mrs Harrison said: "He became ill and had to be put down. He was only three. The vet said it was tetanus, which she had never encountered before.
"It's so sad. We still have two horses, Bella and Beauty, and they often go and stand over his grave.
"He was just so lovely, friends' children used to come here and, although he had not been ridden before, he would let children sit on him and let them plait his mane.
"He used to come in the kitchen, he was a real part of the family."
The couple's worst experiences occurred between February 24 and March 10, when they were flooded five times in 10 days.
But the problem re-occurred again yesterday. Southern Water engineers were on the scene today when they were able to identify the cause as a broken impeller in the pumping station.
Mrs Harrison said: "The pumping station is too small for the amount of waste it is handling."
She is adamant that the blame lies with Southern Water.
She said: "I have a newspaper report from six years ago in which MP Helen Grant says Southern Water urgently needs to do something about the infrastructure in the village - but nothing has happened."
Mrs Harrison added: "The situation is only going to get worse thanks to the recent development of David Wilson Homes which is adjacent to our home.
"Southern Water and David Wilson Homes should have worked together to ensure that a new sewage and waste infrastructure scheme be put in - that was part of the granting of planning permission - but it hasn't happened.
"Our beautiful home has been contaminated and the whole of our ground floor has had to be ripped up and walls have to be re-plastered.
"We may never be able to get it back to how it was before the flooding and should we proceed with the works there are no guarantees that it will not flood again."
The Harrisons believe that Maidstone council must also take its share of the blame - for allowing the continued housing expansion.
Mrs Harrison said: "All building in the area needs to be stopped until the problem is properly sorted out."
Southern Water was asked for comment, but did not respond.
A David Wilson Homes spokesperson said: “There was sufficient sewage capacity for our new homes at Dickens Gate, as confirmed by both the local authority and by Southern Water, when planning for the development was approved.
"The recent heavy rain has unfortunately resulted in the public sewer system becoming backed up, leading to some localised flooding.
"We are very sympathetic to those that have been affected by the recent rainfall, and would encourage anyone to contact Environmental Health and Southern Water to help to resolve the issue.”
