Water firm accused over sewage floods

FOOTAGE SHOWS SPILLAGE AT WOODLAND SITE

- By EDWARD BARNES

A GRIM video shows water and sewage bursting through a manhole cover in a Merseyside woodland which one man believes may have been happening for years.

The spillage, understood to have taken place on September 19, took place near storm tanks operated by United Utilities near Upton in Wirral. It is located in woodland close to a footpath that runs alongside the River Fender between Felthorpe Close and Upton Park Drive.

The ECHO understands United Utilities were contacted by the Environment Agency (EA) about the manhole on September 17 and a visit was carried out at the site, followed by a cleanup the next day. Wirral resident Alan Howgate said he'd contacted the EA after becoming increasingly frustrated about the situation.

However Mr Howgate, who took the video and photos, said he first raised the issue with the water company in April this year. He also pointed to Google Earth imagery dating back several years, believing this indicates a regular spill in the area.