Sweeter at Foxton

Published: Saturday, 24 April 2010

NARROWBOATERS will be finding the air around Foxton Locks a little sweeter than of late in future.

They have been complaining about the stench, which was found to be coming from the cesspit serving Foxton Locks, Foxton Locks Inn and restaurant, that have no mains sewers, Alan Tilbury tells us.

When the Inn was revamped, no provision was made for the extra sewage created by the many visitors, which simply went into a cesspit, then had to be emptied by tanker.  There was not even a sceptic tank installed, which would have eased the problem.

Solve the problem

However there is a scheme to connect the inn to the mains, at a cost of  £150,000, which will completely solve the problem.

It is not only boaters who are complaining, but local residents who point out that millions of pounds have been spent on the locks and the buildings, with many toilets installed—even in the car park—but no provision for handling the waste.

Overflowed into canal

Last year the facilities could not cope and raw sewage overflowed into the canal, which at last prompted action from British Waterways.

A spokesman from BW explained:

"British Waterways recognises that this is not an ideal situation and will shortly be starting a £150,000 project to connect both the toilet blocks, the toilets at the Foxton Inn pub and the boaters Elsan facility to the main sewage network."

There is no start date however for the work.