SICKENED Southampton residents have hit out after years of being plagued by a smell described as "raw human faeces".

Those living in the St Denys area close to the Southern Water sewage works have said that it is like "living on a farm near a pile of pig manure".

The Portswood Wastewater Treatment Works, off Kent Road, produces a pungent smell that has left residents unable to use their own gardens or open their windows.

They have hit out at Southern Water calling on more to be done to reduce the nuisance caused by the odor.

A spokesperson from Southern Water has said the recent smell was caused by a "failure of extraction fans caused by an electrical fault".

Agnieszka Golacka has lived on Kent Road for seven years and says she is worried the air quality could affect her seven-year-old son who has a lung condition.

The 48-year-old carer said: "It's horrible - like you live on a farm and you have a big pile of pig manure outside your window.

"It's very bad, like human faeces outside your window.

"When it gets hotter, it's unbearable. Even if you close your window you can still smell it.

"We can't use our garden because of that smell.

"A lot of people have mental problems and they can even use their garden to help with their condition.

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"Fresh air should be a basic right."

Gavin Millar, 69, has lived in St Denys for 20 years.

He lives a few roads away from the treatment works and is concerned about the condition of the River Itchen.

"I'm only really aware of the smell when the wind comes from the north," he said.

"I started an organisation called Friends of the Itchen Estuary and it's very much about looking after and preserving the natural value of that river estuary."

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Jaqueline Moss has lived in St Denys for 72 years said the sewage plan has "always smelt", but has been worse during the last few years.

The 79-year-old said: "It's sickening, it makes me feel ill.

"I am constantly in contact with Southern Water but we get no response."

Cllr John Savage is urging residents to report the bad smells to the council.

He explained that five years ago Southern Water made the decision to stop moving waste via barge and instead transport the waste via HGVs.

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It was initially thought that this would help combat the stench but the smell remained.

He said: "Five years down the line, nothing has improved and people are arguing that is it getting worse.

"I have been in discussions with Southern Water about what their plans are to improve it.

"I have had phone meetings and meeting over Teams now and we have set up an agenda.

"I am going to be meeting with them and the leader of the council, our legal team, and the environmental health team to try and work out what can happen here to improve these issues."

A spokesperson for Southern Water said: “We are aware of recent reports of an unpleasant smell in the area around Portswood Wastewater Treatment works in Southampton. 

"We would like to apologise for any impact on the local community.

“A failure of extraction fans caused by an electrical fault has now been fixed. This should lead to a quick improvement.

“In 2018, we completed a £5.5m investment on this site to tackle potential impact on the local environment, including odours, and we monitor performance closely. 

"We would urge residents to report any issues to us by calling on 0330 303 0368.”