A COMPLETE review of Oxford’s entire sewerage system is set to be carried out after concerns were raised that it is no longer fit for purpose.

Thames Water has agreed to carry out the review after Oxford City Council lobbied for the work to be done because of constant leaks.

And leader of the city council Bob Price has said he intends to hold the company to its promise.

He said: “Most of Oxford’s sewerage network is Victorian and there is a large backlog of improvement work required so we thought that rather than tinker around with it, let’s look at the whole system and think about how they can adapt it for the needs of the 21st century.

“The intention is that we would use the overall study as a means of informing an investment programme for the next 10 to 20 years. The amount of development that is happening in Oxford over the next two or three years, such as the Westgate Centre and Oxpens, will have a significant impact on the system.”

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The city council and Thames Water Utilities will announce the study at the annual forum of the Oxford Flood Partnership on Thursday, October 16. It is expected to take 18 months to complete and will be carried out with Oxford Flood Alliance.

Peter Rawcliffe, chairman of Oxford Flood Alliance, said some parts of Oxford were hit by so-called foul-water flooding when they are flooded.

He said: “Sewage flooding is extremely serious in a lot of areas around Abingdon Road and Botley Road. It is a major issue and clearly the system is not up to it. Foul-water flooding makes a bad thing even worse and it is a public health issue.

“It is particularly a problem for families with children and pets and of course it is just very unpleasant.

“From what I have heard this will be a very thorough study and one can only hope it will lead to action.”

Recent months have seen several Oxford roads closed while Thames Water makes emergency repairs to the sewerage system.

Anthony Crawford, head of waste networks at Thames Water, said: “We’re really pleased to be working with the city council and Oxford Flood Alliance on this important project to assess the sewer system.

“This study will help us pinpoint exactly where investment is needed.

“This is a large, complex piece of work which will benefit the city and put it in a strong position for the future.”

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “This study is something which I, together with the city council and Nicola Blackwood, have been pressing for.

“Pressure on the city’s sewerage system is evident in a number of locations, from south Oxford to Marston.

“When there is flooding, the contamination of people’s homes and gardens with foul water makes a bad situation worse.

“More people are living in the city which adds to the pressure.

“We need a sewerage system which is properly fit for purpose.”

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