Sorting office in Chipping Campden prone to sewage leaks all year round
A CESSPIT at a Royal Mail sorting office is believed to be causing a right stink among locals as it has been leaking for the past 18 months.
Sewage from a cesspit on the sorting office site has been spilling out onto nearby roads - not far from a doctor’s surgery - for the last 18 months.
It means that in the summer the area smells and in winter the rain washes away the sewage down the road and into ditches.
Cotswold District Councillor, Tom Stowe, (Campden & Vale Conservative) said:
“Back in September, I reported the problem to the environmental regulatory services (ERS) team at Cotswold District Council and they visited the sorting office and were given a contact for Royal Mail management who said that a work order had been made with Royal Mail’s property management company.
“After a lack of action the ERS team made further contact in February and finally got in touch with the person responsible on the management team at Royal Mail and they confirmed they were aware of the situation and that the tank was due to be drained and repaired. Royal Mail were given two weeks to provide an update before enforcement commenced. Since then, the ERS team have been unable to contact Royal Mail management so the case has been escalated to a senior ERS manager at the council.”
Councillor Stowe said despite the best efforts and cooperation of staff at the sorting office, Royal Mail management had ignored requests by various parties who have contacted them to get the situation resolved.
“The staff - to whom I would like to pass on my thanks for their assistance – are as frustrated as anyone else that nothing has been done about it.
It’s an absolute disgrace that a company the size of Royal Mail has totally shirked it’s corporate and environmental responsibilities, causing a stink and discharging effluent into the local environment,” Cllr Stowe said.
A Cotswold District Council spokesperson said: “The cesspit is on Royal Mail premises at Chipping Campden, and therefore it is their responsibility to maintain. However, we take all complaints seriously and our Environmental Regulatory Services team are aware of the issue and are working with Royal Mail to find a solution.”
However, the big stink hanging around Back Ends could soon be coming to an end.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “This is an ongoing matter and one we are committed to resolving. Currently, it is unconfirmed whether the leak originates from the tank itself or if there is an issue outside the boundary of the premises. The matter has been escalated and we will be carrying out further maintenance.”
