A campaigner against more house building on the Island has spoken of the “foul” consequences the development in Halfway could have.

John Walsh said a large number of questions would have to be resolved before building work for 142 homes on the old HBC Engineering factory in Power Station Road goes ahead.

Earlier this month, the site was granted outline planning permission in a narrow vote at a council committee meeting.

Through the Facebook group, Sheppey NO more houses! Mr Walsh has campaigned for proper infrastructure to be put in place before the development is built.

Some of the main issues he has raised regard congestion in Halfway Road junction and problems with sewage.

In 2012, a number of homes in the area were flooded with raw sewage after weeks of heavy rain led to pipes becoming blocked.

At the time, Southern Water urged residents and businesses to correctly dispose of items and cooking fats that could cause blockages.

Mr Walsh said: “We’ve had problems with foul, raw sewage coming up in the garden.

“If you flushed the downstairs toilet the water wouldn’t go away.

“We’ve had raw stools and toilet paper coming up into the streets and leaking into our back gardens – it’s a health and safety issue too.”

In Swale council’s 2012 draft local plan entitled Bearing Fruits, Southern Water registered concerns about further house building during the plan’s consultation stage.

Regional planning manager Susan Solbra commented: “During heavy rainfall the street manhole covers are forced up by the waste-water pressure along Halfway Road.

“This must surely indicate that a problem exists which will increase with further demands from this scale of development.”

More recently, the water company indicated additional off-site sewers would have to be built or a series of improvements to existing systems would have to be undertaken before the development could go ahead.

Before the building can go-ahead, owners TBH Sheerness has to agree terms with Swale council as to what remedies can be found for the problems highlighted.

The petition to stop any more house building on Sheppey has received more than 1,000 signatures so far.

To sign, visit www.you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sheppey-no-more-houses