A SEWAGE spillage in Burghfield has raised concern with a resident in the area.

A resident who got in touch with the Chronicle explained there had been a sewage spillage in Pondhouse Copse in Burghfield earlier this month.

They explained Thames Water had been on site "actively resolving the spillage" which happened within an "ancient wet woodland area".

They expressed concerns this is a health and safety issue and, speaking this week, they fear there is still visible raw sewage in the landscape.

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The resident said: "This sewage system is failing to serve the needs of the community and was not designed with the impacts of climate change in mind.

"The sewage spill is located within an ancient wet woodland area which has been subject to notable flooding owing to the changes in the weather patterns as a result of climate change.

"Climate change is a major environmental challenge of our times of which the effects are being experienced in the daily lives of communities."

The resident explained the "issues of flooding and sewage overspills within this area is not a unique incident".

The resident made reference to a "major spillage" in the Burghfield Allotments back in 2012 and said residents living in and around the woodland have experienced their drainage points overspilling.

A spokesperson for Thames Water said: "We responded to the sewage spill within 24 hours of it being reported and found it was caused by several logs from some tree felling being dumped inside the sewer.

"Whoever put them there will have lifted off the manhole cover to access the sewer so it was clearly intentional, which is very concerning.

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"Once we’d removed the logs we washed through the sewer pipes to make sure the system was flowing freely and also cleaned up the affected area as best we could.

"This incident serves as a reminder that sewers and drains aren’t rubbish bins and if they’re used in this way it can cause harm to the environment and also risk flooding to properties.”

They explained Thames Water has revisited the area a number of times since the incident to check the sewer is clear of blockages and report that no further problems have been found.

They also explained the incident at the allotments was caused by a fault at a nearby pumping station.