It never rains but it floods, angry residents complain
RESIDENTS of The Green Road have appealed to Ashbourne Town Council for support as they tackle the authorities over flooding in their homes.
Ahead of an item for discussion by town councillor Martin Spencer, himself a Green Road resident, three of his neighbours spoke to councillors to highlight the challenges they are facing whenever there is a downpour.
The busy stretch of road leading to the B5035 is frequently seeing a run-off from the neighbouring hill known as “The Punch”, and the water is draining into people’s driveways and even flooding their homes and outbuildings.
One of the residents told councillors at a meeting last week: “Whenever there’s a downpour there are two issues really, one is the amount of water which is coming down the road, which is coming down to at least three properties.
“And I believe it’s since the road has been resurfaced, which has altered the camber of the road, and the drainage just isn’t adequate to cope with it.
“There’s also some work going on just on the way out to Kniveton, which is also spilling mud into it as well, so it gets quite messy whenever there’s a downpour.”
Problems reported include everything from a flooded garage to water collecting beneath floorboards, after washing down drives.
During one weekend that saw three named storms in quick succession, the “torrent” of water led to 17cm of rainwater pooling up beneath a resident’s living room, councillors were told.
The residents were advised to contact their ward member at Derbyshire County Council, Steve Bull, copying in Ashbourne’s MP Sarah Dines.
Town Councillors pledged to support them by writing a letter into the county council, highlighting the problems residents in the road were facing.
During the formal discussion, Councillor Spencer said: “I have been in contact with Derbyshire Dales District Council
and a member of the flood management team, who has investigated the problem.
“He has been to meet me, and we have tried to come up with a solution, but so far, no luck.
“He has provided some flood sacks, which I have deployed to the residents, but it has now come to light that a property next door to the original flooding has several inches of flood water under the floorboards.
“This could be the result of flood water coming down the driveway.
“Also due to the camber of the road opposite these properties in question, the flood water is adding to the problem.”
Councillor Spencer says he believes the excavation work being carried out on fields by the side of The Punch is removing the grass surface, which would normally absorb the worst of any deluges, but instead rain water is running off into the road, dragging silt down with it.
He also told councillors it is believed the number of drains in The Green Road is inadequate, with more gullies needed to help capture flood water.
He said: “I’d like to thank the residents for coming tonight, we have tried up to now to get something sorted, but I’d now like to ask my colleagues if we can send a letter to Derbyshire County Council’s highways department suggesting they send a surveyor down to do some further investigation.
“I believe there’s a lot more they can do.”
It was unanimously agreed that the town council would write to the county council, urging them to find a solution to the problem as soon as possible.
Since the road has been resurfaced, it has altered the camber of the road
One of the residents