Anglian Water says they are not to blame for flooding in Fisherman’s Drive, March that has blighted the lives of many residents.

Cambs Times: Fishermans Drive, March.Fishermans Drive, March. (Image: Archant)

“It’s always flooded,” said one resident who has lived there for 45 years and is angry that the road was flooded again a fortnight ago.

“The lady next door can’t even get out of her house when it’s like this. And we can’t get into our own car sometimes without wearing wellingtons.

An Anglia Water spokesman said: “In relation to Fisherman’s Drive, Anglian Water does not have any surface water drainage in this road. It could be flooding on the highway.

“This would seem to be the case and the reason why Cambridgeshire County Council mentions its investigations and finding tree roots. If the county council is investigating, they would be looking at their own system - not ours.”

Cambs Times: Fishermans Drive, March.Fishermans Drive, March. (Image: Archant)

The spokesman added: “Flooding is often an extremely complex issue with many different owners for the drainage network such as private companies, as is the case in Lake Close, plus highways, as is the case in Fisherman’s Drive, as well as local councils, drainage boards, private homeowners, as well as ourselves.

“That’s why we were the first water company to set up a flood partnership fund of £8 million to work with our partners to reduce the risk of flooding for the communities we serve.

“We will always investigate the after-effects of the heavy rain where our assets may be involved, but in these areas we do not provide the drainage system which takes surface water.”

Anglian Water says that since the flooding in March in 2014 “we have worked continuously alongside our colleagues at Cambridgeshire County Council and Fenland District Council to reduce the risk of such extensive flooding happening again”.

Cambs Times: Fishermans Drive, March.Fishermans Drive, March. (Image: Archant)

The spokesman said work has included jetting and repairing damaged sewers, removing inappropriate connections that could cause pollution, and contributing to property level resilience measures.

“We will continue to work closely with our drainage partners, who share responsibility for the drainage,” the spokesman said.

The controversy has prompted a local councillor is pressing to find out who is responsible and why the area is prone to flooding.

Councillor Jan French said: “Something has got to be done because it’s not fair for it to be flooded every time it rains hard.

Cambs Times: Fishermans Drive, March.Fishermans Drive, March. (Image: Archant)

“The length of time it is taking is ridiculous. Somebody has got to take responsibility and get this sorted.”

“I’ve been chasing this for about a year to find out why the footpath hasn’t been completed in nearby Lake Close.”

However residents simply want to get the mess cleared to stop it happening again.

One resident said: “It affects seven properties on the road; other people have reported it before but nothing seems to get done about it.”

Cambs Times: Fishermans Drive, March.Fishermans Drive, March. (Image: Archant)

A second resident said: “Every time it rains heavily the water just stays there, it’s almost like a lake.”

Councillor Jan French said: “Something has got to be done because it’s not fair for it to be flooded every time it rains hard.

“The length of time it is taking is ridiculous. Somebody has got to take responsibility and get this sorted.”

“I’ve been chasing this for about a year to find out why the footpath hasn’t been completed in nearby Lake Close.”

Cambs Times: Fishermans Drive, March.Fishermans Drive, March. (Image: Archant)

Cllr French said she was told that Anglia Water hasn’t signed it off yet because of issues with surface water or sewage.

She said that until they sign it off the road surfaces are not going to be completed.

The Anglia Water spokesman said: “In relation to Lake Close, Anglian Water does not own the foul or surface water sewers in this estate. They remain the responsibility of the site owners, Circle Thirty Three Housing Trust Ltd.”