Sewage system at development labelled 'obvious stupidity'

The plans, for the previously approved Fossil Bay development south of Clappers Lane, in Earnley, between Selsey and West Wittering, were refused by Chichester District Council.

In its refusal, the council said that insufficient information had been provided to show the proposals "would have adequate capacity to serve the development in terms of its storage capacity, the likely frequency of discharge and the capacity of the wider sewer network to accommodate for such discharges". 

Developers had wanted to secure an on-site system to allow people to move into the homes, which has been hampered by ongoing issues surrounding the local sewage system and a condition which does not allow occupancy until Southern Water says its infrastructure can serve the development. 

Local MP Jess Brown-Fuller previously said the sewage system in the area was being pushed to the "absolute limits", after a pipe burst last December. 

However, residents said that the proposed on-site system would "clearly not work".

Trish MacKinnor criticised the plans as "obvious stupidity".

She said: "I have personally witnessed manhole covers bubbling up sewage in Clappers Lane, Pound Road and Church Road.

"The developer's suggestion of a six hour storage scheme would clearly not work under the current weather conditions that we are facing now."

The plan for the on-site storage included a 38 cubic metre tank, which would have provided up to six hours of storage until the sewage could be discharged outside of peak flow hours.

Lindsey Ruff said: "I have driven down Clappers Lane for 25 years travelling to work and I have never seen it flood until this development was built. I have driven through raw sewage running down the road over the past few months.

"How can these properties continue to be built and occupied when the foul drainage is clearly insufficient to cope with an increase in volume from this development?

"Until drainage infrastructure is in place no one should be allowed to live in these houses or any new houses be built."

The development was previously refused by the council, but was allowed on appeal in 2022, with a clause stipulating that no owners could move in until Southern Water confirmed there was capacity to accommodate it in its network.

However, resident Nikki De Villiers said: "When the inspector put that particular clause in place, it was due to the very real public health risk.

"The proposal to in effect ignore that clause would be irresponsible at best.

"These measly plans do not take into account the very real risks to the public."

Andrew Raffell added: "This development was approved on the condition that the existing sewage infrastructure would be upgraded. 

"Failing to uphold that condition would not only be irresponsible but would represent poor planning judgment and show a serious disregard for the residents who are already dealing with sewage-related problems."