COUNTYS DRAINS HITTING CRISIS POINT

Heather Kidd, has urged Shropshire Council to radically overhaul the way it deals with flooding and drainage before more damage is done to property in the County.
Heather said: “A number of Councillors and local campaigners have been pressing the Council to take urgent action on the state of gully emptying and pipe jetting in the West of the County for months if not years. Too little investment in clearing drains, gullies and ditches leaves many areas very vulnerable to flash flooding after the torrential thunder storms we have experienced over the last few weeks.
Homes Flooded
“Over the last week alone, blocked pipes and gullies have seen gardens and patios flooded in Brockton, Crows Nest, Gravels and Pontesbury to name but a few. In the former case the blockage has been reported several times by the resident and myself but no action was taken. When I asked for a team to attend as a matter of urgency during a thunderstorm last week, I was told that the only team on duty was in Bridgnorth! One team to cover a big chunk of Shropshire when thunderstorms were forecast? Someone should have actioned more teams. Can we deal with a major flooding incident? Or indeed any major emergency?
“We now have so few staff that there are times when it is very difficult to talk to anyone who knows about our area. Land drainage officers are vital to keep water off the highways and help prevent flooding. We now have 2 for the whole of Shropshire!
“Cutting the further £5 million from this years roads budget and next will only make things worse.
“The state of the Council budget is now so poor that we have really reached a tipping point on drains, potholes and much more