Couple use bucket for loo over Xmas and New Year after raw sewage floods drains
A couple were forced to use a bucket as a toilet after their drains were flooded with raw sewage.
Kim and Lee Bourton have been plagued with sewage problems since they moved onto the new build estate two years ago.
Over Christmas and New Year, the drains at the development became blocked, leaving them without a toilet or shower.
They were looking forward to having friends over to celebrate the New Year but their plans were a 'wash out' due to the plumbing nightmare.
"We have been having to use a bucket to go to the toilet," Kim told the Chronicle Live.
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"We were meant to be having friends round for New Year's Eve but we can't expect them to use a bucket."
The coupe contacted the emergency number for their house on the Fairways Estate in Cramlington, Northumberland.
The couple were left unable to use their toilet (Chronicle Live)
Raw sewage flooded drains on their new-build estate (Chronicle Live)But they discovered they were no longer covered because they have lived at the property for just over two years which means they are no longer entitled to cover.
Kim said: "They already know about this issue and are liable for it. We were told to get a company to clean the drains but it is a problem with the entire estate.
"The one person we managed to contact in the office said there was no one in as the offices were closed over Christmas."
Kim and Lee, who bought the property for £260,000, said the issue had been ongoing on the estate since they moved in.
"Last February all the drains became blocked and the sewage was running all over the estate," she said.
The couple's blocked shower (handout)"There is an issue when the drains become blocked and it backs up blocking the toilet and drains so we can't use the shower.
"It is five times in two years we've had problems and to be honest I feel like it is false promises from Persimmon."
Housebuilding company Persimmon sent somebody to temporarily fix the problem on Friday evening but Kim said the drains were overflowing again by New Year's Day.
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"The toilets and shower are blocked again. The drain has burst and running into the suds which drain into a pond where there is a lot of wildlife including protected newts," she said.
"They said the pump station is not working which is causing the drains to be full backed up.
"The pump station is fenced off and padlocked and nobody with keys is contactable so no one can access it in an emergency."
Persimmon acknowledged the sewage issues at the development and said efforts to resolve it are ongoing.
A spokesperson said: "We were sorry to hear about the difficulties experienced by one of our customers at the Fairways development over the festive period.
"When our customer care team was notified about the problem, a Vactor was sent to jet wash and clean the drainage system as quickly as possible.
"We are aware of technical issues with the sewage system at the site and work is ongoing with contractors to develop a long-term solution as quickly as possible."
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