Swift action appears to have put an end to flooding problems blighting one of Royston’s busiest roads.

As reported in The Crow last week, Burns Road has been subjected of repeated flooding near the Coombes Community Centre during the winter months. This led to safety fears being raised by residents, as well as staff at the community centre.

However, work was carried out last Friday by staff from Hertfordshire County Council’s highways contractor, Ringway, and it is hoped the flooding will not re-occur.

Royston’s county councillor Fiona Hill told The Crow: “I’ve been aware of this problem since Christmas, and had been liaising with highways officers to get some action taken.

“The work last week had already planned, and they have cleared the drains as well as investigating any other reasons problems might occur. I think they’ve been looking at when the area was last cleared, and the situation will be monitored because it’s been an ongoing problem.”

Cllr Hill added that highways staff would also be looking at Newmarket Road, which has been affected by occasional flooding during the heavy rain in recent weeks.

Gillian Morland, manager of Coombes Community Centre, was one of those who contacted The Crow about the flooding last week.

She said she was “delighted” the problem had been solved.

“The contractors jetted the drains on both sides and took away the standing water and despite heavy rain since the road remains totally clear,” she said. “The end result is quite satisfactory.”

“Had the problem continued till the weather dropped below freezing it is hard to imagine the awful consequences that would have had with a large frozen area of water totally across a road used by so many vehicles and people. The people involved can credit themselves - it was 10 minutes well spent.”