Suffering Shefford residents to finally get temporary sewage pump solution

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

WEDNESDAY 11^th MARCH 2026

Alistair Strathern, the MP for Hitchin, has welcomed news that after pressing Anglian Water over the issues caused by long running sewage works in the town of Shefford a temporary pumping solution will now be installed.

Residents in Shefford have had to endure months of noisy manual ‘tanking’ of sewage after a longstanding fault in the local sewage network broke at the end of last year. 

After Strathern’s office pushed Anglian to get on site and get this issue resolved, but with repairs now likely to stretch into the summer the MP has been pressing Anglian to do more to mitigate the impact of the issue in the meantime. 

The new over‑pumping equipment will stop the need for noisy daily tanking of sewage, and reduce the impact on local residents until works are finally complete. 

Alistair Strathern MP said:

“I’m glad that after months of noisy, daily, tanking of sewage Anglian Water have recognised the need for a better interim solution. 

“Once installed this temporary pumping solution will be a welcome relief for the local community. 

“But Anglian also need to get a move on and finally get these longstanding local sewage issues fixed once and for all.

“It’s a real source of frustration for all of us locally that after months of enduring this issue, a permanent fix isn’t due until the summer. 

“I’ll be continuing to challenge Anglian to do more to rectify this issue far quicker for our community.”