FLOODING could soon be a problem of the past for Benfleet residents as a £350,000 project to replace sewage mains gets under way.

The pipes running along Watlington Road have been at bursting point for the past few years, with residents regularly experiencing raw sewage overflowing from their toilets.

Anglian Water has now begun a 15-week project to install 485 metres of pipes between the pumping station and the water recycling centre, which is expected to reduce the risk of pressurised mains exploding.

Alf Partridge, Tory councillor for St Mary’s ward, welcomed the long-awaited repair work.

He said: “The original drainage system has remained relatively unchanged, and I just don’t understand how we are going to cope with the 800 extra homes in the local plan.

“I have been inundated with complaints from people who have had sewage going into their homes, so any improvement is essential and should be welcomed.

“This is a long project and it’s bound to cause disruption, but we need to remember Anglian Water is working under extremely difficult circumstances.”

Further work is going on behind the scenes to reduce the risk of flooding from heavy rainfall.

Emma Staples, from Anglian Water, said: “We know how devastating flooding is and we do all we can to reduce the chance of it happening by continually investing in our network to keep it in good working order. This scheme is an example of that continual investment and is one of a number of projects we have carried out in Benfleet in the past 12 months.

“This work is essential to prevent sewer flooding to nearby homes in Watlington Road.

“However, we also appreciate that other parts of Benfleet have suffered from surface water flooding because of heavy rain.

“The joint work which also needs to take place to reduce the risk of flooding from extreme weather is still ongoing alongside the many different organisations responsible for the wider drainage system, including the Environment Agency and highways authority.”

Engineers are working in the road from 7.30am until 5.30pm, with occasional weekend and night shifts.

No road closures or diversions have been put in place, but the footpath in front of the pumping station will be closed throughout the project, which is set to finish at the end of March.

Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris said: “We are very pleased Anglian Water is carrying out this work to protect homes, but it’s clear more needs to be done to ensure the local sewage system can cope with its flow at the moment.

“We are very concerned that it will not be able to do so if the Jotmans development goes ahead.

“The council should take the strain on the sewage system into full account when the decide on the local plan.”