SEWAGE problems are causing a stink for residents living close to a new housing development near Abergavenny.

David Bowen, who along with his wife Jean a retired staff nurse, has lived in Gypsy Lane, Llanfoist for 20 years, says the problems with the sewage linking from the new Barratt Homes development Plas Mynydd are becoming unbearable.

A retired lecturer in psychiatric nursing and a community psychiatric nurse for 35 years, Mr Bowen, 60, has documented more than a year of problems surrounding the large concrete cess pit sited just yards from his home.

Over the weekend he and his wife witnessed major sewage and drainage problems close to their home.

"On Monday it took workers two hours to unblock the drains," said Mr Bowen.

He said the cess pit, which is used for the development and the new Llanfoist School, is cleaned every day but still creates an horrendous smell. "When they empty the pit, it's horrendous," he said.

The site has caused headaches for Gypsy Lane residents since June 2007.

"The director of Barratts came to our houses and they started the work before he arrived. "They began building the compound which housed the lorries, big machinery and site offices, on top of my back garden."

When work began Mr Bowen claims generators would be left on all night, and alleges that workers shouted and swore at residents leading to he and his wife taking a three month holiday as they felt they could no longer face the day to day strain.

"We had to go away it was making us ill. While we were on holiday my son and daughter stayed at our house, even they couldn't stand it and had to go home. In all my years a psychiatric nurse I have never felt as intimidated and threatened as I did by the workers."

Mr Bowen said Barratt refused to erect a boundary fence, "I don't enjoy my garden anymore and we can't open the windows - the smell gets into our home even if the windows and doors are closed."

The problems Mr and Mrs Bowen say they have suffered, have left them feeling "under siege."

"We have just felt blighted and trapped. It got the point where we couldn't look out of our window because the workers would start intimidating us, one boy lassoed a chain around his head and made motions like a gorilla. They were shouting and swearing and one threatened to drive a JCB into my house. The machine that cleans the cess pit everyday once turned up at 6.20am - I went and asked if they could keep the noise down or do it a bit later and just got abuse.

"I am not saying we are entitled to a view, we knew that one day the area would be developed but it's the way they went about it all, we never thought there would be a cess pit on top of our back garden. We have had nothing but aggravation and provocation, it has caused a lot of distress and there is no need for it. I have written and complained to Barratts, the MP and Monmouthshire County Council and it seems Barratt can do what they want."

A spokeswoman from Barratt homes said, "We have not received any official complaint with regards to the construction work or workers at the Plas Mynydd development, and thank the paper for bringing this to our attention. 

"There is currently work underway on the sewage system at the development, which we hope to be completed soon and apologise for any inconvenience while this is carried out. With regards to the conduct of our construction staff, we take all complaints very seriously and will investigate fully."

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Mr Bowen approached Monmouth MP David Davies for help over the problem, he said, "Having been contacted by several constituents I recently held a face to face meeting with Managing Director of Welsh Water regarding this issue.  I was very disappointed to hear that Welsh Water believes the developer has failed to install a sewage system which complies with minimum quality standards. For that reason Welsh Water has refused to allow the connection to its sewage system. "So far I have only heard one side of the argument therefore I have today written to the developers outlining my discussions with Welsh Water and asking for a meeting. Also I understand there have been allegations that some construction staff may have been rude and abusive to residents.  I have asked the developers to investigate this claim and let me know their findings."