Residents in a quiet cul-de-sac are demanding action to stop a persistent and unbearable stench emanating from a nearby pumping station. The smell, which has been described as reminiscent of rotting eggs and diarrhoea, has been plaguing the community for months, with some residents claiming it has made their homes uninhabitable.
Barry Jupp, 74, a retired articulated lorry driver, has lived in the cul-de-sac for over 60 years. He claims the smell has been getting progressively worse since September 2025, with the worst of it occurring in the summer months. "It's just non-stop – once it starts, you'll be lucky if it goes within three or four hours," he said. "A cul-de-sac shouldn't smell of rotting eggs or diarrhoea, and you shouldn't have to have a hot house from closing your windows."
Mr Jupp has tried to escape the smell by driving to Cornwall, but even that has not provided relief. He has handed in log diaries to the local council, but so far, there has been no resolution to the issue. The retired lorry driver fears that the problem will make it impossible to sell his home, which he has been trying to downsize from for years. "I've got Stage 4 kidney cancer, and this is just making me really depressed," he said.
Another resident, Mervin Bunclark, 80, has lived in the road for 15 years and has witnessed the smell getting progressively worse. He claims that the smell is unbearable and that it's not just a minor nuisance. "You can hear it churning inside, but it's obviously not powerful enough to discharge the waste," he said. "It's smelled since 2010, but a more rancid stench has been circulating in the last year. It's actually hard to explain how bad it is."
The local council has acknowledged the issue and is investigating whether the odour incidents cross the threshold of being an actionable statutory nuisance. Southern Water, the company responsible for the pumping station, has said that they are aware of the problem and are investigating, with a spokesperson stating that they have scheduled a clean of the sewage tank to address the issue.
However, with a plan to build 800 new homes on a nearby former railway works, residents are concerned that the problem will only get worse. Mr Bunclark fears that the increased population will put further strain on the sewage system, exacerbating the problem. "The smell has got worse since all the homes in Adams Drive were built, so how's the sewage going to cope if 800 more come at the railway works?" he asked.
Residents are demanding action from the authorities to resolve the issue and restore their community to its former state. With the summer months approaching, the smell is expected to worsen, and residents are hoping for a resolution to the problem soon.
The local council and Southern Water are working to resolve the issue, with the latter stating that they will keep customers updated on the progress of the investigation and any subsequent clean-up efforts. However, for residents like Mr Jupp and Mr Bunclark, the smell is a persistent reminder of the problem that needs to be addressed.
