Stinky business: south London bike shop hit by ‘unbearable’ stench from Thames Water sewer
Owner and mechanics fear for their health and future of the Herne Hill shop with no date for fixing problem The leafy south London neighbourhood of Herne Hill is a haven for cyclists who can often be seen lapping the local parks and refuelling at the many cafes that line the suburban streets. But there is something foul in the air of this corner of the capital – and for once it’s not the traffic…
A south London bike shop in Herne Hill is struggling with an unbearable stench originating from Thames Water's sewer system. The leafy neighbourhood, known for its cyclists and local cafes, is now plagued by an acrid smell believed to be caused by untreated sewage stuck in the underground drains, likely exacerbated by the summer's lack of rainfall.
Shop owner Tamas Polocz has repeatedly complained to Thames Water about the issue since it began in June, and his colleague Nick even vomited due to the fumes. Thames Water has accepted that a mains sewer beneath the shop is to blame but has yet to provide a date for resolving the problem. The stench appears multiple times a day, described with words like "cabbage," "teargas," "onions," "spicy BBQ," and repeated references to "shit."
When the Guardian first visited the shop, the odor was a whiff of rotten eggs, but within minutes, it became overpowering, forcing mechanics to work on the pavement outside and customers to be barred. The exact cause remains unknown, but a Thames Water engineer suggested it was likely due to the lack of rain and the non-replacement of a ventilation pipe that previously drew odors away.
Experts warn that during dry periods, untreated sewage builds up in pipes, causing foul-smelling gas emissions similar to flatulence in human digestion. The stress from the stench is affecting the shop's employees' physical and mental health, with Polocz feeling like his body and mind have aged significantly. The shop's owner is concerned about its future sustainability and the impact on his health, while Bicycle Nation's board member Harriet Talbot highlighted the difficulty of running a business reliant on weather conditions.
Thames Water acknowledged the problem and plans to install odor monitors to determine the exact cause.
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