A wave of nausea. Watering eyes. Sleepless nights haunted by an unimaginable stench. That’s the reality for residents of Chestfield, a village near Whitstable in Kent, besieged by a foul odor they describe as raw sewage.
For over a year, the “horrendous” smell has permeated the air, creeping into homes and disrupting daily life. Celena Campbell, 71, a lifelong resident, is at her wit’s end. “It’s the worst possible smell you can imagine,” she says, her voice laced with frustration. “One lady up the road was physically sick because of it.”
The source, villagers believe, lies less than a mile away: the sprawling Oxenden Park housing development. While still under construction, the estate’s incomplete sewage system is struggling to cope, creating a breeding ground for noxious gases.
With only 41% of the planned 450 homes occupied, wastewater volumes are too low for the system to function properly. Sewage lingers in the pipes, allowing gases to build and escape, unleashing the offensive odor upon Chestfield.
Temporary measures implemented by the developer, including chemical treatments and digestion processes, initially offered relief. But recent setbacks – access issues hindering maintenance and supply problems with essential materials – have allowed the stench to return with renewed force.
The frustration boiled over on Sunday as homeowners staged a protest outside the Bellway Homes sales office. They demand a permanent solution to a problem that is eroding their quality of life.
Mandy Friend, a 59-year-old mother of two, describes the impact on everyday routines. “You want to invite your friends over for a barbecue, but then you think, ‘They’re not going to want to come over if it absolutely stinks of sewage outside.’” She finds herself battling the smell with bleach and scented candles, yet it still invades her home, even waking her at night.
Local councillors Dr. Peter Old and James Flanagan have long warned of the potential strain on the sewage system, voicing their concerns when the development was initially approved. They now criticize the developer’s slow response, accusing them of leaving residents exposed to the ongoing health hazard.
The situation, they argue, is a stark warning about the dangers of prioritizing housing construction over essential infrastructure. Without adequate investment in supporting systems, similar problems will inevitably arise in other rapidly developing areas.
Bellway acknowledges the issue and claims it is temporary, linked to the incomplete nature of the development. They apologize for the disruption and state they are working with technical teams to resolve the problem “as quickly as possible.”
While some residents within the Oxenden Park estate report no issues, others, like engineer Phil Twin, recall tankers being used to remove waste from an on-site treatment unit shortly after moving in last September. He hopes for a swift resolution, acknowledging the distress experienced by those in Chestfield.
