Wheatley residents describe six-year battle with sewage flooding as MP pushes new law

Residents in Wheatley have spoken out in a new video about their six-year fight to stop raw sewage flooding into their homes during heavy rain.

The film, released today by Freddie van Mierlo MP, features local residents Judy Washington and Katherine Gibson, who describe repeated incidents of sewage backing up through their drains and the impact it has had on their lives.

Their experiences come amid wider concerns about sewage infrastructure in the area, with incidents at nearby treatment works and flooding linked to overwhelmed systems during periods of heavy rainfall. 

The video follows Freddie’s introduction of a new Water Amendment Bill in Parliament, aimed at stopping water companies such as Thames Water from delaying or avoiding fines for environmental breaches.

Freddie van Mierlo MP said:

“What Judy and Katherine describe is completely unacceptable. No one should have to deal with raw sewage coming into their home.

This is exactly why I’ve introduced my Bill — because without real consequences, water companies will continue to get away with it.”

Judy Washington said:

“We’ve been fighting this for years. Every time it rains heavily, we worry it will happen again.”

Katherine Gibson added:

“It’s exhausting dealing with Thames Water's failure to address the problem. We just want a proper solution.”

Freddie added that the case underlines the need for stronger enforcement:

“Residents are being let down by a system that allows delays and excuses. My Bill is about making sure companies are held accountable — on time and in full.”

The new legislation comes after Thames Water was fined a record £122.7 million for breaches, but allowed to delay payment under current rules.