Action call as portable toilets brought in

CARERS have been forced to wade through sewage while elderly residents have had to resort to portable toilets in the flood-hit Cotswolds.

People have struggled without flushing toilets during the festive period as Storm Bella lashed our county causing widespread flooding.

Chiefs at Cotswold District Council say the adverse weather has caused sewage flooding in the area. They are now calling on Thames Water to take urgent action to provide more support.

Leader of the council, Joe Harris, said: “After a few extremely difficult days the situation is starting to improve slowly. However, there are still properties, gardens and roads that remain flooded.

“Sewage flooding is the biggest issue and we are asking Thames Water to provide more support and clear raw sewage from homes and gardens.

“There needs to be a clear plan to prevent river water infiltrating sewage systems on this scale again - it is simply not fair that residents have had to deal with this.

“We have witnessed carers arriving to provide essential personal care to elderly and vulnerable residents and being forced to wade through sewage contaminated floodwater.

“We have had to provide portable toilets for elderly residents who have had no flushing toilets for days - we cannot allow this to continue, it is placing our residents at risk.”

Leaders at Gloucestershire County Council has urged people not to drive through flood water.

They said: “It risks lives, causes damage to nearby properties and puts pressure on our emergency services when it goes wrong.”