Closed
Opposite the junction with Great Lane
Reported via desktop in the Drains/Ditches Blocked category anonymously at 14:46, Fri 18 June 2021
Sent to Central Bedfordshire Council less than a minute later. Council ref: 357913.
The road drains are blocked and water floods the High St and overflows into nearby properties. This has happened three times so far in 2021. I am a resident of 25 years and it has never been as bad as this, something must have happened to the underground pipes or local outflow.
Updates
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State changed to: Investigating
Updated by Central Bedfordshire Council at 14:46, Fri 18 June 2021
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Inadequate road drains in Clophill High St near St Mary.s School The problem The Great Lane junction on the High St accumulates surface water from Great Lane and Little Lane both of which slope down to the junction. However, the road drains, even after being maintained by pumping out are insufficient to cope with heavy rain and debris that gets washed from the lanes and verges. The impact St Mary.s Lower School and Nursery is opposite the junction and excess surface water is unable to flow away via the drains but instead floods the entrance/car park and potentially the school itself. Hazards such as dislodged manhole covers would be invisible under the murky water. The water may also have been contaminated by sewage or other undesirable substances leached from the fields. No responsible authority should allow children to be exposed to these hazards or interruption to their education. Two historic buildings (Kings Cottage and 3 Great Lane) have had overflow from the drains lapping up against their walls and in their gardens. It can only be a matter of time when there is heavy winter rain that incursion into the property and damage to the fabric of the buildings occurs. One of these buildings is already listed by English Heritage and the other is in the process of being listed. No responsible authority should allow its historic heritage in a Conservation Area to be threatened in this way. Recent events We have lived in the same location in Clophill for more than 25 years and have never encountered problems with road drainage as severe as in 2021. So far this year the drains have been incapable of disposing of rainwater on three occasions: 14 January, 18 May, 18 June. On the evening of 18 May the Highways Authority spent almost three hours clearing the road drains in the vicinity. But on 18 June the flooding arose again suggesting that either their efforts were inadequate or there is a more fundamental problem with the design or structure of the drainage system. Conversations between local residents and the contractors employed by the Highways Authority suggest that there is a fault in the underground pipework on the opposite side of the road to the junction and that the cost of remedying this is considered to be too high. Local residents pay their Council Tax and have a right to expect their properties and local school to be protected. This issue is only going to get worse with climate change and we look to our Council to support us. We will actively monitor the situation and the Council.s response. Brian Adams, Clophill Conservation Group, 18 June 2021
[ This update contains a photo, see: https://fixmystreet.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/ photo/ c/ 5381947.0.full.jpeg?9c8dd7b6 ]
State changed to: Open
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 11:31, Tue 22 June 2021
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Inadequate road drains in Clophill High St near St Mary’s School The problem The Great Lane junction on the High St accumulates surface water from Great Lane and Little Lane both of which slope down to the junction. However, the road drains, even after being maintained by pumping out are insufficient to cope with heavy rain and debris that gets washed from the lanes and verges. The impact St Mary’s Lower School and Nursery is opposite the junction and excess surface water is unable to flow away via the drains but instead floods the entrance/car park and potentially the school itself. Hazards such as dislodged manhole covers would be invisible under the murky water. The water may also have been contaminated by sewage or other undesirable substances leached from the fields. No responsible authority should allow children to be exposed to these hazards or interruption to their education. Two historic buildings (Kings Cottage and 3 Great Lane) have had overflow from the drains lapping up against their walls and in their gardens. It can only be a matter of time when there is heavy winter rain that incursion into the property and damage to the fabric of the buildings occurs. One of these buildings is already listed by English Heritage and the other is in the process of being listed. No responsible authority should allow its historic heritage in a Conservation Area to be threatened in this way. Recent events We have lived in the same location in Clophill for more than 25 years and have never encountered problems with road drainage as severe as in 2021. So far this year the drains have been incapable of disposing of rainwater on three occasions: 14 January, 18 May, 18 June. On the evening of 18 May the Highways Authority spent almost three hours clearing the road drains in the vicinity. But on 18 June the flooding arose again suggesting that either their efforts were inadequate or there is a more fundamental problem with the design or structure of the drainage system. Conversations between local residents and the contractors employed by the Highways Authority suggest that there is a fault in the underground pipework on the opposite side of the road to the junction and that the cost of remedying this is considered to be too high. Local residents pay their Council Tax and have a right to expect their properties and local school to be protected. This issue is only going to get worse with climate change and we look to our Council to support us. We will actively monitor the situation and the Council’s response. Brian Adams, Clophill Conservation Group, 18 June 2021
State changed to: Investigating
Posted by Brian Adams at 11:31, Tue 22 June 2021
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Thank you for your Highways report.
Following you report we have carried out an inspection and raised an order to repair your identified issue and this has now been added to our programme of works.Many thanks,
Central Bedfordshire Council HighwaysOrder rasied to jet gullies on this junction and up Great Lane/Little Lane. Also order to ramp up footway slightly to try and stop water puddling on footway.
State changed to: Action scheduled
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 11:38, Mon 12 July 2021
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We have discovered that the drain under a manhole cover I the road outside 3 Great Lane, Clophill is blocked with mud etc. This causes severe flooding to our garden. Please can you flush it out when you do the other drains in Gt Lane/Little Lane etc.
State changed to: Open
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 16:12, Mon 9 August 2021
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We have discovered that the drain under a manhole cover I the road outside 3 Great Lane, Clophill is blocked with mud etc. This causes severe flooding to our garden. Please can you flush it out when you do the other drains in Gt Lane/Little Lane etc.
State changed to: Action scheduled
Posted anonymously at 16:12, Mon 9 August 2021
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Customer called for updates. I have advised that a ticket was raised for the problem to be fixed.
Customer will like to know if an aproximate timescale can be provided for when this will be actually fixed, please.Thank you!
State changed to: Open
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 15:43, Thu 12 August 2021
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Resident called for an update, he was advised by a neighbour who had spoken with the contractor and they advised that a broken pipe requires to be repaired by Anglian water first. Is this the case? If so can we have a rough idea of timescale or procedure that needs to be carried out please? Advised resident to check back in 5 working days for a response.Many Thanks
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 11:54, Thu 26 August 2021
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Customer called to follow up his report and to get a date for when this work is scheduled for as he needs to arrange to be there. He has requested to escalate this and for a call back. Email sent to area team and Principal Officer.
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 11:25, Tue 7 September 2021
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Thank you for submitting your Highways report.
Maintenance work is planned for this area and the issue will be resolved as part of these works.Many thanks,
Central Bedfordshire Council HighwaysCalled Brian Adams today stating the latest updates we had for this. John has raised an order for a dig and investigate as a 3 month order. Will contact Brian when I know the programme date.
State changed to: Closed
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 10:33, Thu 9 September 2021
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Customer was advised work was due to happen on the dropped kerb outside his property this week as its do with flooding risk of a grade 2 listed property.
Some workers turned up the other day, stayed for half an hour and then left and havent been back since.
Customer would like an update as to what is going to happen. This has been an ongoing issue for a while
Email sent to area teamState changed to: Open
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 10:52, Fri 24 September 2021
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Thank you for submitting your Highways report.
We have visited the sight once again today and made an alternarive plan to the last order of works, this is now being implemented and we shall endeavour to have these works carried out as swiftly as possible.
Many thanks,
Central Bedfordshire Council HighwaysState changed to: Closed
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 13:28, Wed 29 September 2021
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Resident called in again and said please tell him a date of when this work is going to be done.
State changed to: Open
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 11:46, Tue 2 November 2021
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Thank you for your Highways report.
looking into timescaled for works to commence, shall update report once found.
Many thanks,
Central Bedfordshire Council HighwaysState changed to: In progress
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 13:55, Tue 2 November 2021
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Thank you for your Highways report.
The works are planned to hopefuklly commence next week.
Many thanks,
Central Bedfordshire Council Highways
State changed to: Action scheduled
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 11:34, Mon 8 November 2021
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Customer called for an update.
He advised that some work has been done on the dropped kerb but the road needs to be dug up and the drains sorted out.
Customer has asked to be contacted and advised when this work will take place.State changed to: Open
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 11:49, Fri 19 November 2021
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Thank you for your Highways report.
From my understanding there are multiple issues here historically with the gullies under the carriageway. There are issues all along the High Street also, I am looking into this matter to ascertain if there are any long term plans for more works/investigations into the gully issues. If anything further is required, one of our engineers will contact you using the contact details provided.
Many thanks,
Central Bedfordshire Council HighwaysState changed to: In progress
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 09:56, Tue 23 November 2021
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Reply to Fix My Street (ref 357913) response from the Highways Authority on 24 November 2021 Thank you for your reply to my request on 19 November for a progress update on an original notification of serious flooding that I lodged on your Fix My Street web site on 18 June 2021. You have not identified yourself but I assume you are a senior official responsible for our area? Your latest response is extremely disappointing at this late stage, given that we are fast approaching the season when damage from flooding will be at its maximum. On 9 September I was told by Michael Shea (you?) that specialists with an underground camera had identified a bottleneck caused by an inappropriate earlier repair (this was consistent with the sudden increase in flooding in early 2021). He said that the necessary repair was scheduled within a 3 month window and that he would let me know when it was about to be carried out. I enquired on 2 November about progress and was told in writing on 8 November that the work would .hopefully. be carried out during week commencing 15 November. Since this did not take place I submitted a query again leading to your disappointing response on 24 November. It is disappointing for the following reasons: 1. I have been led to believe that the cause of our sudden problems in 2021 had been identified and that work had been authorised. Whereas now you are telling me that you knew all along that there are issues further down the High St which need to be investigated thus implying further delays. 2. Taking the bigger picture into account is always a good idea but creeping complexity can also be an excuse for not doing anything practical and at least solve a known problem quickly. The school is at risk of flooding; my listed home at 3 Great Lane is at risk of flooding; listed Kings Cottage on the corner of Great Lane is still vulnerable despite your recent efforts to divert flood water by ramping up the dropped curb which will be overwhelmed during the next flood when traffic displaces water over the hump. With respect, I realise that you have a far from easy job but please can you deliver on your earlier promises so that we can at least make some progress before the floods arrive? Brian Adams 3 Great Lane 25 November 2021
State changed to: Open
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 08:38, Thu 25 November 2021
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Reply to Fix My Street (ref 357913) response from the Highways Authority on 24 November 2021 Thank you for your reply to my request on 19 November for a progress update on an original notification of serious flooding that I lodged on your Fix My Street web site on 18 June 2021. You have not identified yourself but I assume you are a senior official responsible for our area? Your latest response is extremely disappointing at this late stage, given that we are fast approaching the season when damage from flooding will be at its maximum. On 9 September I was told by Michael Shea (you?) that specialists with an underground camera had identified a bottleneck caused by an inappropriate earlier repair (this was consistent with the sudden increase in flooding in early 2021). He said that the necessary repair was scheduled within a 3 month window and that he would let me know when it was about to be carried out. I enquired on 2 November about progress and was told in writing on 8 November that the work would “hopefully” be carried out during week commencing 15 November. Since this did not take place I submitted a query again leading to your disappointing response on 24 November. It is disappointing for the following reasons: 1. I have been led to believe that the cause of our sudden problems in 2021 had been identified and that work had been authorised. Whereas now you are telling me that you knew all along that there are issues further down the High St which need to be investigated thus implying further delays. 2. Taking the bigger picture into account is always a good idea but creeping complexity can also be an excuse for not doing anything practical and at least solve a known problem quickly. The school is at risk of flooding; my listed home at 3 Great Lane is at risk of flooding; listed Kings Cottage on the corner of Great Lane is still vulnerable despite your recent efforts to divert flood water by ramping up the dropped curb which will be overwhelmed during the next flood when traffic displaces water over the hump. With respect, I realise that you have a far from easy job but please can you deliver on your earlier promises so that we can at least make some progress before the floods arrive? Brian Adams 3 Great Lane 25 November 2021
State changed to: In progress
Posted anonymously at 08:38, Thu 25 November 2021
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an email has been sent to the resident.
State changed to: Duplicate
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 11:55, Fri 26 November 2021
This report is now closed to updates from the public. You can make a new report in the same location.