RELIEF could be on the way for residents of a York village hit by the double bombshell that their sewers need repairing and they might have to foot the bill.

People living in the Highthorn Road area of Huntington are served by a "private" sewer system.

The sewer's original standard of design is described as "poor", and it has never been joined to the public sewer system. In September, the residents were told that £10,000 of work needed to be done to the sewers and because it was a private system, they could legally be made to pay for it. But City of York Council planning chiefs have now recommended the local taxpayer picks up the tab.

Councillors at Wednesday's meeting of the executive member for the environment with the advisory panel will be urged to approve including a growth bid of £14,000 in the 2003/2004 budget process.

Of that money, £6,000 would be used for immediate repairs and improvements to the Highthorn Road sewers, with a "recurring" £8,000, to be used for routine maintenance, ongoing repairs and cleansing and electricity costs. Huntington councillor Carol Runciman said the council supports paying for the repairs with public money on health grounds.

"The sewer was not very well built when it was originally put in and there have been concerns about possible health hazards.

"Ad hoc repairs are not sufficient in this case. The work needs to be done properly and be properly funded."

"A number of small repairs could, over time, add up to the same amount of money cited in the proposal anyway," Coun Runciman said.

Updated: 15:32 Monday, November 11, 2002