CONCERNED residents in a York village are today up in arms after receiving the double bombshell - that their sewage system needs repairing and they might have to foot the bill.

The people affected live in the Highthorn Road area of Huntington and are served by a "private" sewerage system.

The sewer's original standard of design was described as "poor" and it has never been joined to the public sewer system.

Maintenance of two of the pumping stations added to the system in the mid-1990s, as well as general sewerage work, cost City of York Council £14,000 in the last financial year.

To try and prevent similar bills in the future, the council has proposed a £10,000 programme of works at the sewers.

This would included a "recurring" £4,000 to cover routine maintenance, repairs and cleansing.

The cost could be covered by the local taxpayer, but because the sewers are private the residents can be legally made to pay for their upkeep.

The council had thought over 1,500 homes could be affected, but residents say the true figure is between 60 and 70.

The repair work was proposed at yesterday's meeting of the council's executive member for planning and the environment with the advisory panel.

Afterwards David Gulliver, who lives in Highthorn Road with his wife Carol, said: "We were not told that any discussion of this was imminent, we have found out through the media.

"We are concerned, we want answers from the councillors and obviously we would like to see this work done without us having to pay for it."

And Colin Forth, who has lived in Highthorn Road for 40 years, said: "It is crazy. If they had discussed it with local people we could have set them straight on a few things, how many people are affected, for a start.

"Instead we found out this meeting was on at the last minute, some of us an hour before.

"If there is something wrong then the council should let us know what is going on. We will be getting on to the parish council, there could be a public meeting about this."

The three options given to the council include taking no action, making the residents pay for any work, or including the £10,000 needed in the budget for 2003/04.

Council officers have recommended the taxpayer picks up the bill. "This will help minimise future costs to the council whilst providing the same level of service residents have been accustomed to receiving," said environmental regulation unit manager Dick Haswell.

Members agreed to defer any decision until a detailed plan, including homes affected and the relevant drainage stations, was available.

Updated: 11:56 Tuesday, September 24, 2002