Flash floods hit Royston but homes stay dry

ROYSTON was struck by flash floods, but anxious homeowners were relieved to find their properties unaffected. Heavy rain on Friday saw Melbourn Street closed for 30 minutes to allow water to drain away. This caused queuing traffic as cars were diverted ro

ROYSTON was struck by flash floods, but anxious homeowners were relieved to find their properties unaffected.

Heavy rain on Friday saw Melbourn Street closed for 30 minutes to allow water to drain away. This caused queuing traffic as cars were diverted round the A505 and back into Royston via Kneesworth Street.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire Highways said that crews were also dispatched to Fish Hill, Royston, to deal with flooding problems.

However, properties on the Twigden Estate and Burns Road remained clear. Both areas have become flooded during heavy rain in the last two years.

Royston town councillor Robert Smith, from the Twigdens Estate residents association, said: "We didn't have any problems at all, which was a big relief. I think the heavy rain was quite localised, so Twigden didn't get the worst of it."

Meanwhile temporary bunding is to be installed on the Twigden Estate to try to prevent further flooding.

Cllr Smith said he had been told that this would be installed "within the next couple of weeks."

The last meeting of North Herts District Council's Royston area committee heard that the bunding is a stopgap measure, which will be put in place while a permanent solution is sought to the problem of flooding in the area.