Agenda item

The Forum considered a report by the Director of Environment and Transport in response to the petition requesting immediate action to resolve the flooding at the junction of Bath Lane and Via Devana, Moira.

Ms Carruthers took Members through the report and the investigation which was carried out leading to the report, following the presentation of the petition to Members at the last Highway Forum.

Ms Carruthers advised Members that as Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) the County Council are already aware of the problems in this area and are working with partners to rectify the issues.  Officers are also working with the local landowners as there is an investigation ongoing as to whether there are some issues with blocked drainage pipes under the adjacent playing fields which are in private ownership. 

Ms Carruthers clarified that officers from Severn Trent are due to carry out a hydrological model and this may provide the key of how to resolve this issue, however to date Severn Trent have not committed to a timescale for this work.  She also highlighted that there are similar challenging issues around the County of working with utility companies to seek action to resolve flooding and drainage issues. 

Ms Carruthers reminded Members that as LLFA officers, their responsibility is to highlight the issues to partners and then work with them to achieve solutions.  The LLFA however does not have the ability to enforce action from other utility companies.

Ms Carruthers confirmed that Severn Trent Water had agreed to attend a LCC Scrutiny Commission meeting on 8th March to discuss how they are planning to maintain and upgrade their systems in view of the significant growth agenda moving forward.  She confirmed that officers are frequently in contact with Severn Trent Water officers to ensure there is ongoing commitment on both sides. 

Ms Carruthers stated that further work is being carried out by LCC Highways to alter the culverted watercourse alignment under Bath Lane to alleviate the frequency and severity of future flooding occurrences.    This work will be carried out in the coming financial year.

Ms Carruthers stated that LLFA officers are proposing to undertake a further CCTV survey for the whole length of the field.  Officers will then work with the Minors Welfare Society to ensure the necessary remedial action is taken. 

Ms Carruthers concluded that residents may not be satisfied with the rate of progress on this matter however, as much as possible is being done to work with the relevant parties to try and sort out the issues at this location.

Cllr D Harrison DC raised his concerns about Severn Trent’s response to the flooding issues and specifically the filling in of a dip in the road on the residential development and asked whether this would be a remedial way of resolving the issue.  Ms Carruthers responded that all the options would need to be looked at as merely changing the level of the road is likely to simply move the flooding issue elsewhere rather than curing the issue for the community.  It would also potentially be a costly option. 

Cllr S Sheahan CC thanked officers for the report and stated that he was pleased with the proposed drainage improvement scheme for next year (financial year 2017/18).  He raised concerns about the issues in para 8 of the report and asked how co-operative Severn Trent are being.  He stated that there will be an opportunity to find out at Scrutiny Commission on 8th March, he also asked about the nature of the dialogue. Mr Knight answered that there were meetings with Severn Trent bi-monthly on a number of issues including Bath Lane. 

The Chair agreed to bring a further update to a future meeting after 6 months or at an appropriate time.

RECOMMENDATION

i)          That the report of the Director of Environment and Transport be noted; and

ii)         That an update be brought back to an appropriate meeting in the future (after 6 months’ time).