Flood-hit Hickling locals in toilet row with Anglian Water

Residents in Staithe Road still can’t flush their toilets after storms in October last year flooded Hickling Broad - overwhelming sewerage systems and causing drains to overflow. 

Recent heavy rain during storms has meant they’re still being forced to take trips to the public toilets in the car park of the nearby Pleasure Boat pub in freezing winter temperatures. 

Susan and Steve Adkins, and residents in Staithe Road, Hickling, have had to use public toilets in the car park of the nearby Pleasure Boat pub (Image: Adam Barker)

But after months of suffering, the villagers can't hold it in any longer. 

They've had enough and are demanding that Anglian Water fix the problem.

They say the water company's pumping station in the car park of the Pleasure Boat Inn “is not fit for purpose” and “can’t cope”.

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"We’ve all had to spend thousands of pounds on pumps and sand bags to protect our homes from the flooding," Susan Adkins, who lives in Staithe Road, said.

"During storms, my husband has been out all night manning the pumps. It’s horrible - he was frozen to the bone, up all night in the pouring rain.

Steve and Susan Adkins' flooded garden in Staithe Road, Hickling (Image: Steve and Susan Adkins)

"After Storm Henk this month we couldn’t use our toilets again, so we were back to using the public loos in the pub car park. 

"We contact Anglian Water every day and they say it’s still not fixed. They check the drains and say they’re full, so they go down to the pumping station which they say is working at maximum capacity. 

"This is only going to happen more often with climate change. We need to be more prepared.

"The infrastructure can’t cope and isn’t fit for purpose."

Steve and Susan Adkins with their neighbours William and Deanna Wells, who haven't been able to use the toilets in their home since October, and were given a portable toilet over Christmas (Image: Sonya Duncan)

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Anglian Water said although Hickling Broad is no longer overtopping, water levels are still high. 

It said this means ground water remains high and its "assets are suffering".

An Anglian Water spokesperson said: "We’re continuing to work closely with key partners from across Norfolk to see what else can be done.

"Despite the high levels of ground water, our assets are still pumping flows forward and treating the water as it should be."

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