Call for action over flooding

ANGRY residents flocked to a council meeting to demand action on flooding in Royston. More than 20 people from the Burns Road estate packed the council chamber at a meeting of North Herts District Council s Royston area committee. They were joined by res

ANGRY residents flocked to a council meeting to demand action on flooding in Royston.

More than 20 people from the Burns Road estate packed the council chamber at a meeting of North Herts District Council's Royston area committee.

They were joined by residents from the Twigden Development, whose homes have also been hit by flooding.

Terry Dear, from the Burns Road Estate Against Flooding pressure group, speaking on behalf of the residents, said there had been major problems with flooding in the area since 2000.

Mr Dear said Anglian Water's attitude to the flooding had been "bullish and arrogant", and that the statements it had been releasing blaming the problems on the build up of fats, oils, and greases in the sewers had "got people's backs up".

He said: "Some people can't even run a bath without worrying about what is going to happen.

"We want to know what is being done and when it will be done by."

Paul Tovell, from Anglian Water, also attended the meeting, and said that the company had put a number of measures in place to prevent problems in the future.

These included cleaning out the main sewer which runs under Royston, and regular checks of the area to monitor the build-up of fats, oils and greases.

Mr Tovell said: "Obviously I cannot guarantee that flooding won't occur again, but I am confident it won't be a problem in Royston in the future."

Cllr Fiona Hill, chairman of the committee, said she had "huge sympathy" with all the residents affected, and that she had spoken to Hertfordshire Highways, which was looking at what it could do to reduce the risk of flooding.

Cllr Liz Beardwell said: "I think it is horrendous that this was allowed to happen in the first place.