Plans to connect beach toilets to mains sewers will not worsen flooding in a posh coastal village, Anglian Water has insisted. 

The National Trust wants to replace an aging septic tank at Brancaster Beach by digging a pipeline beside Broad Lane.

It says the move would mean tanker lorries would no longer be needed to pump out the cesspit, while unsightly overhead power lines which run along the road could also be buried as part of the work.

Eastern Daily Press: Digging a pipeline to the beach loos would allow unsightly power lines to be buried alongside itDigging a pipeline to the beach loos would allow unsightly power lines to be buried alongside it (Image: Chris Bishop)

Waste would be piped to the nearest treatment works five miles away at Burnham Market, which has suffered severe flooding in recent winters.

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Eastern Daily Press: Burnham Market has suffered severe flooding this winter Burnham Market has suffered severe flooding this winter (Image: Chris Bishop)

But an Anglian Water spokesman said: "As this is a very small connection for the public toilets relative to the area, it won’t make an appreciable difference to the capacity in the area. 

"We’re working with the National Trust on this project which will see us connecting the foul sewer to the public toilets once planning permission is granted."

Eastern Daily Press: A pipeline would mean HGVs would no longer need to drive down the beach road to empty the septic tankA pipeline would mean HGVs would no longer need to drive down the beach road to empty the septic tank (Image: Chris Bishop)

A spokesman for the trust said: "We are currently at the design stage of our project at Brancaster, to connect the public toilets to the main sewage network and remove the risk of leaks.

"We have been working with Anglian Water, who have advised there is capacity to connect into the mains drain and are designing a project to meet their standards. It's still early days and we don't yet have a date for submitting a planning application."

Eastern Daily Press: Unsightly power cables along Broad Lane, at BrancasterUnsightly power cables along Broad Lane, at Brancaster (Image: Chris Bishop)

The trust said relying on a cesspit means there is an ongoing risk of sewerage escaping and polluting the surrounding area during a storm surge.

Burying the cables along with the work would transform the landscape, creating open views across the marshes and remove the risk of birds flying into the wires.