§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will seek to make interim arrangements for the maintenance of the drainage system at the Castle Estate, Sawbridgeworth, in the parish of Sheering, pending the final settlement of the dispute;
306W(2) how many years it is since the completion of the Castle Estate, Sawbridgeworth, in the parish of Sheering, that the dispute over the adoption of the drainage system by the local authority has been unresolved;
(3) if he is satisfied that arrangements exist to maintain the drainage system at Castle Estate, Sawbridgeworth, in the parish of Sheering, and prevent dangers to the public, pending the settlement of the dispute.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe Castle Estate was completed in 1965 and formal application was made by the estate developers in July 1970 requesting the local authority to adopt the private drainage system. The maintenance of private sewers is essentially a matter for the owners; and it would be for the local authority, as the public health authority, to take action under the Public Health Acts if the sewers were not sufficiently maintained.