Update regarding Ashmead Road Subway (Melbreck)

I’ve had a letter back from Rosie Cooper after my recent email. She contacted LCC and WLBC for comment.

LCC says that the drainage ditch is blocked and that’s why the Subway keeps flooding. They have cleared the gulley’s but because the ditch is blocked there’s nowhere for the water to run off to.

WLBC have said that they’ve recently been out to remove a large tree that was blocking the ditch.

I guess it’s now a waiting game to see if removing the large tree has fixed the problem.

I will continue to fight for this issue to be resolved so please know that if it floods again, the next time it rains, I’ll be back in contact with everyone again.

I also have direct contacts to the correct departments that deal with this now.

FURTHER UPDATE

I’ve spoken to WLBC today; Rachel Kneale from the environment team. The tree was removed at the end of last summer and they thought it would fix the problem. It clearly hasn’t so I asked what else can be done. Rachel said the ditch needs clearing further but there’s no money available to do it. She will apply for capital funding to see if any money can be made available to remedy this.

I’ve spoken to Yvonne Gagen about it and she agrees the ditch does need further clearing but a lack of money makes it difficult.

I have floated the idea of getting a group of volunteers together, once lock down is over, to clear the ditch ourselves. I would be happy to work with a volunteer group like Friends of Tawd Valley and see if we can get a few local residents involved too.

With a lack of funding it seems that this might be a great community projects for volunteers to do this summer. (Subject to covid safe measures of course).

I have also asked that the drains are cleared again because there’s a build up of leaves and silt that will cause further problems if not removed.