EASTLEIGH MP David Chidgey is calling for an inquiry into plans for an outfall into the River Itchen to ease flooding at the town's Chickenhall Sewage Works.

Mr Chidgey says sewage would enter the river just a few miles upstream of Portsmouth Water's extraction works at West End which supplies water to thousands of homes across south Hampshire.

He said: "These plans fly in the face of all the efforts being made to sustain the environment, improve water quality and protect people's health."

But Southern Water said it planned to bring an existing outfall back into operation to release storm water into the River Itchen, with the consent of the Environ-ment Agency, during exceptional wet weather to prevent flooding of nearby homes and businesses.

Mr Chidgey said: "The River Itchen is designated as a Special Area of Conservation. I am calling for a full inquiry into how an increase in sewage flows could be permitted into an area protected by law.

"Southern Water says it just doesn't have the cash to modernise their offending Chickenhall sewage works. But by discharging raw sewage into the river they would be off-loading the problem on to Portsmouth Water.

"They, no doubt, would have to go to extra lengths to purify the water they extract downstream at their Gaters Mill works before allowing it into the public supply.

"But this would be little comfort to the wildlife in and along the Itchen."

The MP said he would be taking the issue to the Environment Agency and to the minister responsible at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.. But a Southern Water spokesman said: "We are only talking about hugely diluted flows and only in very serious instances."

Andy Neve, technical director for Portsmouth Water, said: "We don't know anything at this stage and it would be premature to comment."