Staffordshire Playground Shut Amid Contamination Fears Following Flooding

A children’s playground in Staffordshire has been temporarily closed after heavy rainfall caused a nearby river to overflow its banks. Flood water from the River Tean covered the play area in Jubilee Park, Checkley, prompting concerns from the parish council that the water could be contaminated due to the combined system allowing rainwater and sewage to move through the same pipes. Council chair Stephanie Akerman stated that no support had been received for testing the area’s flood water, which she described as “frustrating for the community.” The Environment Agency has been contacted for a statement. This is not the first time the parish has experienced flooding, and residents have previously expressed concern that heavy rainfall had resulted in “several instances of a strong sewage smell in the area.” Councillor Akerman informed BBC Radio Stoke that there were worries the drainage system was repeatedly becoming “overwhelmed” and “leaking raw sewage into the river and onto public footpaths.” Although the flooded play area resulted from the river bursting its banks, Severn Trent has acknowledged an existing problem in the area. The company stated, “There is an unconnected issue with hydraulic overload further upstream, which we have committed additional resource to evaluate the cause and find a long-term solution.” Ms. Akerman indicated that she personally cleans out the drains when heavy rain is forecast, but recognized that this effort was insufficient. She emphasized, “We need more support with the infrastructure and the sewage system, we also need some support in creating natural areas that collect water to reduce the flooding.” The parish council has organized its own cleanup efforts for Tuesday, during which it plans to sanitize the play area, but added that its actions were “more than what a parish council would normally be responsible for.”