A �1.7m sewage pipeline project aimed at ending flooding misery for households in Ormesby has failed to deliver on its promise and has not worked properly from the start, it was claimed this week.

A �1.7m sewage pipeline project aimed at ending flooding misery for households in Ormesby has failed to deliver on its promise and has not worked properly from the start, it was claimed this week.

Speaking at Ormesby with Scratby parish council meeting on Monday chairman Geoff Freeman said: “We thought after 25 years this was cured but three to four weeks ago we had incredible problems. Anglia Water said there would not be any more overflows but I have neighbours with photographs of it.

“Anglian Water have admitted they had major problems since the day the new pumping station was installed at Thoroughfare Lane. If it breaks down it overflows into Hemsby. It is going to be a major problem.

“The lady who they built the station next to is extremely unhappy. She has noise, pollution and smell having been told there would be no intrusion on their living, plus the pumps trip her power and she was asking for another transformer.”

Jim Shrimplin said Anglia Water had agreed to a meeting although a date had yet to be set.

A spokesman for Anglia Water said: “We have had a few teething problems. We are on site this week installing some new equipment on the pump and we have also ordered a transformer. It should all be resolved by the end of February.”

Members agreed to tackle the problem of poor public access to Ormesby Broad following an inquiry from a member of the public.

Mr Freeman said the issue had been highlighted before but that the Broads Authority had a “high handed” attitude, adding: “It is our intention to open up and make access.”

Mr Shrimplin said: “The Broads Authority would like to shut down access from staithes. A few of us have got together and we are all objecting to how they are handling the matter. We have had one or two spats with them already. We have ancient rights. The public have every right to go on there and the parishioners have every right to launch from that staithe. The Broads Authority are trying to shut it but we have no intention of allowing them to do that.”

Mr Shrimplin said he knew of an organisation that was looking to award grants of up to �10,000 towards small scale environmentally friendly projects. Mr Freeman said the council would prioritise the issue in the new year.

County hall bosses have agreed to consider again the case for a footway along Station Road. Members were told that a traffic survey in 2006 did not come anywhere near to fulfilling criteria but that they were prepared to another count.

Members said they had reservations about a bid to site a mobile home at Pages Farm. The dwelling needed to allow the monitoring of polytunnels, the applicant stated. Mr Freeman said he was uncertain the scale of the enterprise warranted such close supervision and members said they were wary of allowing development outside the envelope of the village.