Here at the Waverley Web, we have been writing about the whiff that has hung over Bramley for years—in fact, since 2016!
So many posts that space precludes us from using them all. But here’s a few.
Protect “Our Bramley” campaigners cause chaos in the village and bring A281 to a halt!
Thames Water’s head honcho’s gets to sniff the Bramley whiff.
The nifty whiff of scandal hangs over the Great Bramley stink saga
Now, it has become an election issue, as Jeremy Hunt tries to blame Waverley and his opponent for Bramley’s mess!
George Wilson, a former Waverley Councillor, said
It has been a consistent habit of the Tory party to pass the blame for their failures down to local authorities. Jeremy Hunt is one of the worst offenders; he knows full well that it is the fault of his party that so many chickens are coming home to roost. His voting record shows how guilty he is in this respect, supporting each and every policy that has damaged his local community time after time. Let us send him out of parliament to contemplate his failures.
If someone, just anyone, had spoken to the Landlord of the Jolly Farmer, who hardly dared mention the stink in his cellar, someone somewhere would have realised there was a problem.
Here’s Waverley Leader’s take on all things Bramley. Actually, it is not an issue. It’s a CRISIS.
WW ASK: How long have the circa 600-plus residents been drinking contaminated water?
The causes of this are clear—petrol leaking from that local station has been a long-term issue monitored by TW, the environment agency, and the petroleum officer at SCC. WBC has supported this as a place where we can and where we have a role.
What seems to have happened is:
TW has the standard plastic pipes for the water mains around this petrol station.
Benzine can migrate through the plastic pipes, which seems to be what has happened.
TW have known about this risk in proximity to the station for some time and has been sampling daily as a result.
When they detected issues, they issued the stop order. The leak has apparently been addressed.
Shielded pipes will now be put in by Thames Water.
This is why TW is stating weeks rather than days for remediation. It will involve fairly significant disruption, including highway/road closures.
Discussions between the petrol station and other utilities taking place at the moment.
A multi-agency group, likely led by the County council as the council with legal duty over matters such as this, is being considered at the moment.
I will receive further updates on water provision, especially for vulnerable residents, throughout the duration of the TW works.Cllr Paul Follows – Godalming Central and Ockford is 
feeling disappointed.
Because Uncle Jeremy is blaming WBC, he would, wouldn’t he? No doubt it caused Covid and the Cost of Living Crisis
Says Waverley Leade Paul Follows to MP Jeremy Hunt.
Why am I having to explain to someone who was an MP for over a decade basics such as:
Highways sit with the county council. Environmental matters sit with the environmental agency. Petroleum matters sit with SCC Trading standards under their aptly named ‘PETROLEUM OFFICER’.We cannot just usurp their legal powers at WBC any more than I can sit here and write national legislation
We at WBC have done as much as we can to help despite the squabbling of all the people who do have responsibilities in this.
I want to thank our team for all their hard work.Jeremy – our officers have told you so many times, yet you still go out to confuse residents and blame WBC in some pathetic attempt to attack me.It’s disgraceful, please stop. Residents just need clarity. They need to know who does what and who can do what.Below is part of the email our officers have sent you.
Cllr Paul FollowsLeader, Waverley Borough Council
Cllr Paul Follows – Godalming Central and Ockford
This morning, I wrote to Thames Water asking the following questions:
To Whom It May Concern,
Regarding the ongoing incident in Bramley, Surrey, I recognise that Thames Water is not the source of petrol leaks into the surrounding area and that legal duties also sit with the Environment Agency and the Surrey County Council Petroleum officer.
Thames Water have, however, been aware of the issue for some time, as demonstrated by the periodic and daily testing regimen being undertaken on the site.
The risk of contamination/infiltration of the plastic pipes being acknowledged by Thames Water (or else why undertake testing) with the consequent impacts to public health if there was such a contamination.
Can you explain why no proactive works/remediation of the pipes has been undertaken to remove/reduce the possible risk to public health? When the risk is known, can you explain why you waited for an incident rather than address the infrastructure immediately?
I also raise this because there has been an incident. The urgent work to replace the pipes, which will take several weeks, will now constitute a significant disruption to local traffic at no notice – rather than planned work that the community could have been aware of in advance.
The disruption to the water supply and its consequences could also have been prepared in advance. A lack of proactive infrastructure work has lost these opportunities.
Can you please reassure us that communication regarding the incident, the work, and the upcoming disruption will be as straightforward as possible?
Best regards,
Cllr Paul Follows
Leader, Waverley Borough Council
Please grow up politicians and Waverley Web. It seems to me that both Jeremy Hunt and Paul Follows have been helpful and taken action about the Thames Water Bramley and other issues. Please just collaborate and agree rather than point scoring for political gain.
Hi Grumpy, Who exactly WAS making political capital out of the Bramley Stink Sage? Jeremy Hunt! Blaming Waverley when he knows only too well that this has nothing to do with Waverley Borough Council.
So where was the Drinking Water Inspectorate?
The Drinking Water Inspectorate
“The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Areas (DEFRA) and the National Assembly for Wales. Their role is to assess the wholesomeness of water supplies. The DWI regulates the quality of the drinking water we supply and ensures its safety and compliance with Water Quality Regulations. This is completed by reviewing tests we conduct on our drinking water and examining water quality and treatment, as well as carrying out inspections on water companies as and when required.”
Hunt tends to claim credit for good stuff that others have enacted and blames others for the failures of Tory administrations. Happily, not my MP anymore – I live in Farnham.