A FOOTPATH covered in foul-smelling sewage has been closed off after children were forced to walk through it on their way to school.
Gipsy Lane, which leads directly to St Joseph’s Catholic School in Bullbrook, has had sewage flowing it down it in recent weeks.
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Neighbours even found a dead rat on the footpath last week, but the lane has now been closed off while experts try to fix a leak.
Ken Watson, who lives nearby, said: “Young school children had to get to school walking through sewage for too long.
“To me, that is criminal.
“It is common sense to me that in that situation they should have put up a barrier.
“How long does it take and what cost would it have been to do that?
“It is absolutely terrible.”
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A council boss told the News the authority has been working with water companies to track its source, which was found to come from a private drain.
Chiefs are now working with owners to resolve the issue.
Damian James, Assistant Director, Contract Services at Bracknell Forest Council (BFC), said: “For safety reasons we have closed the footpath between St Joseph’s School and London Road until the issue is resolved, we apologise for any inconvenience this will cause.”
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Catholic school managers reportedly contacted the council about the sewage more than two weeks ago, but the barriers have only now been added.
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