Let’s get rid of this sewage pipe across the Basingstoke Canal

It looks like common sense is prevailing and the ugly sewage pipe that goes from Frimhurst Farm, over the Basingstoke Canal and under a garden on Lake Road will not be used for the 65 new homes. Now we need it to be removed …

Developer Bewley Homes had arrogantly assumed that this small pipe would carry all the sewage from the development of 65 new homes, based on an obviously flawed assessment assuming an average flow through the day.

They didn’t bother to ask the owners of the pipe if it could cope, despite past problems of leakage into the Canal and stinky sewage into residents’ garden; due to the vagaries of the planning system they were not required to, and the fact there was no credible sewage solution wasn’t a reason to refuse the application.

Tenacious residents have not let go of this; they got in touch with Thames Water, who concluded it wasn’t up to the job:

So the developers have now requested planning permission to install a pumping station for an alternative solution.

I’d like to see the Planning Application called in by the Planning Committee and a condition added to approval, that the existing stinky pipe is decommissioned and removed together with its ugly supporting structure.

If you agree you can add comments to the consultation here. You can find details of your Councillors, any of whom can call this Application in for greater scrutiny by the Planning Committee, here for Mytchett & Deepcut, here for Frimley Green.

Stuart Black, Frimley Green

25th May 2025