A blanket ban on building new homes should be imposed on a Shropshire village until its sewage infrastructure is improved, a long-serving councillor said today.

Former Shropshire county and Oswestry borough councillor Bill Jenkins said drains in St Martins cannot cope with current demand. He said water firms should invest in the infrastructure to prevent flooding before any more building was carried out.

Councillor Jenkins, who now serves on Weston Rhyn Parish Council, said the time had come for a ban on new homes until that investment was made. He said areas such as School Lane and Overton Road had been particularly badly affected.

Councillor Jenkins said: “This has been a problem for years and years and despite talking to Severn Trent and Welsh Water, the problem has remained.

“I remember when I was a borough councillor we were told St Martins could take another 146 dwellings. We have well passed that figure now but more buildings are still going up.”

Mr Jenkins said he was concerned a development of 75 homes was still waiting to be started in part of the village.

He said: “There is nothing to stop them starting to build now, they have the planning permission.

“The system cannot cope and it has not been able to cope for a long time.

“There has been flooding in School Lane, with water lapping at people’s doors. There has been sewerage left all over Overton Road.

“It is time for action. It is time to stop putting up buildings until the system can cope.”

A public meeting on Wednesday heard residents’ concerns about flooding and the sewage infrastructure.

Campaigners warned the village will face an environmental health disaster.

The talks were organised by the 3P Water Forum, which is made up of residents from Weston Rhyn, St Martins and Gobowen, and was attended by representatives from Severn Trent, Welsh Water, Shropshire Council and councillors.

Welsh Water and Severn Trent have promised to consider all the points made at the public meeting and reply to the 3P Water Forum in the hope of finding a way forward.