12 February 2024 , 17:08
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Furious locals have hit out as Birmingham's infamous 'poo park' is once again flooded with sewage following heavy rain.
The stormy weather has caused a stink for those who frequent Bournville Park, as the downpour left it littered with waste and tampons. Residents expressed their frustration, saying the issue arises every time there's a heavy rainfall and the drains overflow.
They hit out at water company Severn Trent for what they believe to be years of inaction. According to residents, a drain overflowed twice within 36 hours due to the recent bad weather. A similar incident occurred on January 2 when Storm Henk's heavy rain caused sewage to flood the park.
Severn Trent previously explained that the flooding was due to a large amount of rain falling in a short period, overwhelming the system. The company said they are working on a solution to prevent such issues during periods of high rainfall. Magdalen Gorringe, 50, a local resident, said: "It is cordoned off every time there is heavy rainfall as the sewage makes the park unusable.
"Severn Trent does clean it up but there is no preventative action, we just want timescales and I am concerned with the lack of commitment. It is not acceptable. I have researched this and am concerned about bacteria, pathogens, and parasites. This needs to be tackled urgently as we are getting tired of it."
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The park and nearby roads flooded in Bournville (BPM MEDIA)Coun Fred Grindrod, who represents Bournville and Cotteridge, expressed his frustration: "It leaked on the night of February 7 and Severn Trent came out, then within hours it leaked again. We have put forward many complaints but have had no answer. It happens every time it rains and we want to see more action from Severn Trent. They are aware and do respond immediately, which we are grateful for, but we need a permanent fix. We don't want to be known as the poo park."
Matt Rogers, business operations manager at Bournville Village Primary School, voiced his concerns: "We use the park for forest school and some parents walk through the park, so it is an inconvenience and health risk. But it is not our land."
He continued, "All we can do is keep reporting it as we are busy running a school, people have complained of excrement leaking and the smell. We feel frustrated as 654 children are deprived of access to the park but we have a modicum of understanding as it is an old park."
Emma Hulme, from Severn Trent, responded to the issue, saying: "The heavy rain has caused a repeat of the issue, our teams have cornered off the area affected and we will do a thorough clean-up once the flooding has stopped. We're really sorry and we want to reassure everyone we will get to the bottom of what is causing this flooding to happen."