Sewage charges for some Test Valley residents doubles

More than 300 ex-council houses across the region are not connected to the sewer mains.

This means that waste is collected in a private treatment plant, which is managed by the housing association Aster.

The charges have seen a dramatic increase recently, as tankers are being sent from Kent almost weekly to empty the system because it is otherwise leaking into the neighbouring ditch.

One example is Manor Road, East Tytherley, where the sewerage plant serves 11 properties with seven of those being privately owned and four owned by Aster.
Residents received notification on September 26 that the direct debits they pay Aster each month for sewerage would increase from £126.76 per month to £288.26.

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Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, Manor Road resident Joanne Nash said: “I've lived here for more than 20 years and the charges have always been higher than having a septic tank. 

“It has ranged from £59 a month to £126 a month last year. The sudden increase to £288 has been horrific. The homeowners in Manor Road are a range of people. Thee range from pensioners and families. 

“We're in a cost of living crisis as it it. Our electricity bills have increased and our oil bills have increased. To be paying more for sewage than heating is not right. It's a noose hanging over our necks and it has devalued our houses.”

Romsey MP Caroline Nokes and Cllr Nick Adams-King, who represents rural Romsey on Hampshire County Council, have been speaking to Aster to try and get the costs down.

Ms Nokes raised the issue in Parliament. Cllr Adams-King said: “They (Aster) are being unfair, but more importantly they have not managed things properly which has now caused this problem. When they took over these plants from Test Valley Borough Council in 2000, they were in good condition. They have maintained them to the bare minimum, they've not done anything to extend their lives. 

“So, as a consequence, a lot of them are now not working properly. They've put the work out to a national contractor, so people are being charged as much as double what would normally be for a local contractor.

“Also, no money has been put aside to renew any of these plants. There are 11 houses in a row in East Tytherley where the total cost that those houses are paying together each year comes to £37,000.”

An Aster spokesman said: “We’re in regular contact with affected homeowners and we understand their concerns about existing and potential future costs. We are strongly committed to continue to work closely with homeowners and other local and community stakeholders to address their concerns on a site by site basis. The charges to the homeowners reflect the actual cost of maintaining these plants and no other costs are passed on.”