A HAMPSHIRE war veteran is being forced to take a 15-minute walk from his home to use a public toilet whenever it rains.
Alf Bushell will tomorrow be among thousands of people remembering those who lost their lives fighting for their country.
Now the 81-year-old former Royal Marine engineer is saying: "After all I've done for the country, I feel we're entitled to a bit of thought."
Alf is one of many residents in Eastleigh whose toilets become flooded with sewage whenever it rains.
Eastleigh MP David Chidgey has criticised the company, saying it's appalling that residents are being forced to endure such squalid habits.
Alf, who sank onboard Polish ship SS Putsk near Italy and helped shoot down a Heinkel 111 German bomber, said: "In this day and age we should have toilets we can use.
"We manage but it's an inconvenience and the reason we make a fuss is because it's an inconvenience we shouldn't have to put up with.
"And all because Southern Water won't put their hands in their pockets and do something about their pumping station."
Many of Alf's neighbours living in Corsort Road and nearby Elizabeth Way and Consort Close suffer the same problems.
"For years they've said there's nothing wrong. Now it's come to the crunch and they've got to do something they should pay for it. It's their responsibility," said Alf.''
Mr Chidgey said: "It's appalling that my constituents are being reduced to the squalid habits we had to tolerate before main drainage was invented.
"For decades there has been underinvestment in our sewerage system but that doesn't mean the cost of renovations should be met by customers.
Southern Water has applied to Ofwat, the water regulator, for permission and funding to carry out a £1.8 billion repair scheme that is thought would solve all sewage problems in the region. But it's unlikely that all of the cash would be granted, meaning problems would be tackled on a priority basis. There would be no guarantee that Alf's road would be a priority scheme.
A spokesman said: "Flood alleviation is a matter taken extremely seriously by us and we appreciate the difficulties.
"However due to restricted amounts of funding to tackle this issue, schemes have to be prioritised so that properties that experience internal flooding and those where a greater number of households are affected are given the highest priority.''
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