Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris arranged for senior Anglian Water engineers to visit a street in Benfleet that has been dogged by sewage and surface water flooding for a number of years.
The MP arranged for engineers to investigate the problem and meet concerned residents at the request of veteran Benfleet Councillor Alf Partridge following a number of complaints about sewage water entering people’s property during heavy rain in the Saxon Way and Danesfield Road area of South Benfleet.
The engineers identified a problem with the surface water drains in the road and found that the condition of the drainage ditch in Richmond Park, where the surface water system drains into, was overgrown and needed maintenance. This they believe causes a backup through the system that then affects the foul sewer network around that part of the Jotman's estate.
Speaking on the investigation of the problem Rebecca said:
“This is a long running issue that needs urgent attention and I want to thank engineers from Anglian Water for coming down to give the problem a thorough examination and speak to residents face to face.
“It will require co-operation from Anglian Water, Essex County Council Highways Department, The Environment Agency and Castle Point Borough Council to fix the problem for residents. I will keep on the pressure them to ensure the necessary works are undertaken as quickly as possible.
“What is clear is that the local drainage network cannot cope with any new large development in the area!”
Cllr Partridge said:
“What these residents have suffered has been awful. I am glad that Rebecca and I have been able to get the problem thoroughly looked at and now the ball can begin rolling to fix it.
“It seems ludicrous that developers are still persisting with their planning appeal over an application to add hundreds of houses at the other end of the Jotmans estate when we have had such flooding problems down the line. This only adds to residents’ concerns over the development of the site and I will raise it with the council.”