A LONG-awaited report on flooding at an estate has concluded that drains at Royston Leisure Centre are insufficient to cope with heavy rainfall. The consultants report looking at the causes of flooding on the Twigden Estate was presented to North Hertfor

A LONG-awaited report on flooding at an estate has concluded that drains at Royston Leisure Centre are insufficient to cope with heavy rainfall.

The consultants' report looking at the causes of flooding on the Twigden Estate was presented to North Hertfordshire District Council's Royston area committee at a meeting yesterday (Wednesday) night.

It confirms that 75.5mm fell during a two day period in July 2006, when the estate flooded for the first time, while 40.4mm was recorded during the latest flooding, in August 2008.

The drains were designed to cope with 30mm rain over two days, the industry standard when the centre was built in 2005.

The report says it is "reasonable" to assume that such rainfall will happen again, and that the consultants are "considering a range of above and below-ground options to improve drainage so that it can cope with heavy rainfall and prevent similar occurrences happening in the future".

It also notes that a number of other factors contributed to the flooding, including some impermeable car parking spaces on the Twigden Estate, such as that between Pipit Close and the leisure centre.

Residents had been told that the report was to be published two months ago, at the last area committee meeting.

Town councillor Robert Smith, who lives on the Twigden Estate, told that meeting that he was "concerned" at how long the process was taking.