Herne Hill cycle shop hit by sewer odour as repair date remains unknown

A cycle shop in Herne Hill has been repeatedly hit by a severe sewer smell since June, forcing mechanics to work outside and some customers to be turned away. Thames Water has accepted that a mains sewer beneath the shop is responsible, but has not given the owner a date for repairs, leaving the team worried about their health and the business’s future.

The smell is reported at least five times a day, with staff logging descriptions ranging from rotten eggs to “teargas”. A colleague vomited when the problem began, and owner Tamas Polocz says the odour clings to people after they leave. Experts say dry weather can allow untreated sewage to build up and release foul-smelling gas; the precise cause remains unknown, and rain has not cleared it.