Councillor performs his own inspection to highlight to Cambridgeshire County Council March drains need to be cleared

Cllr Rob Skoulding, left, explains the drainage problem to reporter James Podesta. Picture: KALLUM RYAN-MUELLER (Image: Archant)

Fenland District Councillor Rob Skoulding says, at the flood drop-in session held for people affected by the March summer flash floods, Cambridgeshire County Council district highways manager James Rigney assured him the drains had been cleared.

But, when Cllr Skoulding lifted up a manhole cover in Birchwood Avenue on Friday, he says he found the drain “close to overflowing”.

In a letter he has distributed to homes on Birchwood Avenue, he says: “I have recently met with James Rigney, the district highways manager, who informed me the drains had been cleared.

“I told him that we are still having flooding issues in Birchwood and surrounding areas as the drains are still blocked and stressed that these drains need to be cleared so that water can drain away to alleviate the problem.”

The drain is close to overflowing. Picture: KALLUM RYAN-MUELLER (Image: Archant)

Mr Rigney, responding to an complaint from Birchwood Avenue resident Nicola Clarke, said: “We have had the highways drainage system (including gullies and lateral connections) along Birchwood Avenue cleansed and jetted and did not encounter any obstructions.

“But during our investigations we found a blockage in an adjoining system which Birchwood Avenue connects into, therefore affecting the drainage in Birchwood Avenue.

“Unfortunately the location of this blockage is in a garden to rear of a property in Cherrywood Green. We are planning to undertake works to repair this and we hope to have the system repaired as soon as possible.

“Once we have carried out the repairs we will flush through the whole system to ensure it is flowing freely.”

Flooding on Birchwood Avenue, March., on Monday. (Image: Archant)