Fenland residents are worried about plans for hundreds of new homes in an area already prone to sewage backflows.

Anglian Water said last year they would look into problems with the sewage system on Barker’s Lane in March – an issue residents say has been a problem for at least 20 years.

Hazel Harwin, who has lived on the lane for 30 years, said: “We’ve had years where our gardens have been filled with sewage all the way to the bottom. It flows down the garden – I had to take my dog to the vet because it licked its paws. They never listen, it’s been going on for years. It’s actual sewage running down the road.”

The 62-year-old said the sewage spills out of a manhole cover every time there is heavy rain, leaving the area covered in toilet paper.

Zoe Wakelen said the sewage has even flooded the area before and called it “absolutely disgusting”. The 42-year-old said: “We have terrible sewage problems – backflow sewage can come up toilets, sinks and gardens. Down the lane there’s a massive drain and that overflows.”

With hundreds of new homes planned off the lane, residents fear the infrastructure won’t be able to cope, though the developers have said they will not be connected to the same “constrained” sewage network. These include plans for 130 and 425 homes to the south of the lane which have been approved in recent years.

Concerns have been raised around the impact of this on traffic and the safety of school children leaving nearby Neale-Wade Academy.

Ms Wakelen said: “That road is absolutely gridlocked and children dart across the road. I’ve actually seen a girl get knocked over in the road – thank God she was ok. They’re kids, they see a gap and they just go.

“The roads can’t take it – driving through March at peak time takes 30 minutes to get from one end to the other. If there’s an accident on the bypass it can take hours to get through March.”

Nikki and Stuart Gray, both 49, said they’re lucky enough to not be affected by the sewage problems, but also expressed concern over traffic.

Stuart said: “Traffic is a concern especially if they’re using Barker’s Lane – it’s a bit of a nightmare trying to pull out of there anyway.”

Nikki said: “When the school is open the parents park on every side of the lane, you can be sat there for quite a while as it’s a staggered junction.”

A spokesperson for Fenland District Council said they need to make “difficult decisions” when weighing planning applications to meet housebuilding targets.

They said: “All planning applications go through a rigorous process of evaluation before a decision is made taking into account planning policy and guidance. This involves consultation with relevant bodies and the public. Where permission is granted, especially in relation to large scale developments, planning conditions are imposed, or legal agreements signed, to manage details such as how developers will meet infrastructure needs.

“For large housing schemes, it’s usual for this to include a requirement for submission of acceptable management plans for aspects including traffic, surface and foul drainage and other matters.”

A spokesperson for Anglian Water said: “We recognise and acknowledge that Barker’s Lane has experienced recurring issues with external flooding, and we fully understand the concern this can cause for local residents.

“We remain in contact with the multi-agency group, as well as local councillors, MP and partners, to better understand the factors that may be contributing to flooding in the area.

“Our operational teams will continue to jet the sewer when appropriate to ensure it is flowing at full capacity and remains free of possible blockages. We will continue to monitor the network closely and remain committed to supporting the community.”