A resident living on a street infamously nicknamed “Poo Mews” has spoken out about his decades-long battle with sewage floods and dead rats.
Paul Seymour, 65, has been enduring the nightmare of raw sewage and waste erupting from a manhole cover ever since he moved to Sandcliff Road in Erith, south-east London, in 1997. Shocking footage captured this week shows murky water gushing onto the street at an alarming rate.
Paul said this has happened around 20 times since he took residence, with the road becoming strewn with faeces, used sanitary products, nappies, and deceased rodents. The maternity department worker recalled: “Shortly after we moved in, my wife and I were awoken one night by a huge noise. We thought there was a massive flood and there was.”
Sell-out ‘game changer’ grey eyebrow pencil now back in stock as shoppers snap it up
Locals have had to deal with nappies and dead rodents
(
Image:
Paul Seymour / SWNS)
He continued, detailing the horror: “It was sewage and chemicals, and that all flowed down the road in November 1998. It was so bad and went into 10 houses.” While Paul and his wife Joanne were lucky to escape flooding in their property then, other neighbours weren’t as fortunate and had to be evacuated.
Thames Water took two years to repair the affected house and vowed to rectify the issue. However, Paul said: “Ever since then, every year or two years, and sometimes twice a year, we get the same problem. The manhole cover gets pushed up in the air, and you just get a torrent of faeces, used tampons, nappies, dead rats – they all come piling out.
“It happens for no obvious reason as it hasn’t been hugely wet around here, but it dissipated.” Paul has reached out to Bexley Council regarding the issue, but claims they show no interest and instead point him towards Thames Water, saying it’s “a Thames Water problem, not a council problem”.
Paul added: “One of the questions that Thames Water asks is whether we think there’s any potential harm to health. Clearly there is, with raw sewage flowing down a road. Thames Water clears it up, claims they’ve done something and that it’s all fixed. And then it all happens again.”
The sewers have been captured overflowing on video by locals
(
Image:
Paul Seymour / SWNS)
He continued, highlighting the obvious danger: “Clearly there is, with raw sewage flowing down a road.” Despite Thames Water’s efforts to clean up and declare the situation resolved, Paul notes the problem persists. The root cause of this recurring issue remains unconfirmed, but according to a civil engineer Paul spoke to, it might be linked to ongoing construction work.
Speaking about the irregularity of the incidents, Paul said: “This issue hasn’t happened absolutely every year, and sometimes you get away with it.” He also found it odd that the overflow doesn’t necessarily follow heavy rain, adding: “It’s strange because you think if you had a huge downpour, that’s when it would happen, but it’s normally a few days afterwards.”
Paul and Joanne had hoped to move away from the mess, but say it is tricky to sell the property with all this going on. The street itself has been called “Poo Mews” by locals and in coverage over the years and has also been featured in the 2015 documentary Britain’s Horror Homes.
The street itself has been called ‘Poo Mews’ by locals and in coverage over the years and has also been featured in the 2015 documentary Britain’s Horror Homes. Resigned Paul said: “Basically, we’re stuck. We’re going to have to live here until we die, which, if they carry on with this raw sewage, won’t be much longer.”
Officials have not been able to understand why the area so regularly overflows
(
Image:
Paul Seymour / SWNS)
In response to the situation, a spokesperson for Bexley Council simply stated: “This is a Thames Water issue. The Council will do all that it can to provide access and enable Thames Water to complete these works urgently.” A spokesperson for Thames Water added: “We responded to reports of external sewer flooding on Sandcliff Road on Tuesday 7 January.”
“Our teams attended found the flooding occurred as a result of items, such as wet wipes, obstructing the sewers and causing wastewater to back up out of the manhole. We recognise how difficult this can be for residents and we disinfected the flooded area the same day. We would like to remind customers to remember to only flush the three P’s – pee, poo and (toilet) paper.
“This will help avoid sewer blockages which may lead to flooding and pollution.”