Councillors hoping survey will end Woodhall Spa flooding fears

The News revealed last week that Lincolnshire County Council had agreed to fund the survey of Woodhall’s drainage system - from pipes to dykes and ditches.

It follows an initiative led by Woodhall’s ward County Councillor Patricia Bradwell.

Parish council chairman Coun David Clarke said he welcomed the survey and looked forward to the results.

Speaking at a recent parish council meeting, Coun Clarke said flooding continued to be a major concern in Woodhall Spa.

He pointed out that those concerns often formed a key part of parish council objections to new housing developments.

He admitted the objections were rarely successful, put ting extra pressure on an already struggling system.

Councillors highlighted a number of problems areas including Witham Road, Albany Road and Tor-o-Moor Road.

Coun Colin Walker said the entire system needed ‘extra capacity’ and was a particular issue in older parts of the village.

He said drain covers in Tor-O-Moor Road ‘often lifted’ after heavy rain.

Coun Sandy Huskisson said she was concerned about flooding on a section of the main road through the village.

She told the meeting repairs had raised the level of the road surface which meant that in bad weather, water flowed straight over pavements and into properties, including her own home.

Coun Huskisson said the survey was ‘long overdue’ and she hoped funding would by made available to implement any recommendations.

Several councillors indicated they were concerned new housing developments - either at the planning stage or already under construction - would add to current problems.

Coun Walker said many developments relied on attenuation ponds which he claimed were unsatisfactory.

Coun Bradwell assured the meeting ‘every aspect’ of the system would be covered by the survey.

She added the results and recommendations could be used to oppose future developments but stressed that was not the main point of the survey and that the county council was not ‘anti new housing’.

Councillors also heard the village water treatment plant on Green Lane - run by Anglian Water was also at full capacity.

Coun Bradwell said survey involve other organisations including Anglian Water and the Woodland Trust.