The “absolutely ludicrous” situation in a flood-prone road looks set to continue after it emerged remedial work may still not resolve it.
Kathleen Carey said she has complained repeatedly about excessive water on Sandy Lane in Bushey since 2019 to Hertfordshire County Council (HCC).
Ms Carey, who owns a scrap metal business on the road, believes the situation has worsened over the years with HCC showing little interest in fixing it.
She said: “At first it was a bit of a problem, but it’s never been a flood like it is now.
“I’ve phoned HCC again and again.”
She said it is “absolutely ludicrous and ridiculous” that she has not seen anyone on the road to fix the issue.
It’s the winter months that Ms Carey is particularly worried about and a newly formed pothole that is not seen when there is flooding is cause for concern.
- Woman in 20s dies at train station
- Watford FC correspondent Andrew French on returning to his first love
She said: “If you don’t know the road and there is a flood, cars do not always slow down, it is dangerous.
“And last week the frost was dreadful, and people couldn’t get up the hill.”
Ms Carey said her customers have also complained to which she told them to bill the council if they have car trouble because of the flooding.
An HCC spokesperson said: “We are aware of the flooding here but the gullies discharge straight to the Hilfield Brook, therefore if its water level is high then the water from the highway has nowhere to go and hence ponds on the road.
“We maintain the system to make sure that it works as efficiently as possible but in very wet conditions it will be prone to flooding.”
HCC added that a vactor jet clean and investigation is planned to take place in March 23.
However, they said the date cannot be confirmed because the council has not been granted the road space yet.
But the spokesperson warned: “These works should ensure that the drainage in the area works to its optimum but may not fully solve the problem in the long term as the area will still be at a low point and when the brook is full the drainage will still be compromised."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel