FEARS of a repeat of last year's flooding of the Mardyke Valley have been played down.

Last year Thurrock Nub news reported extensively on flooding in the area which saw local properties, stables and scout buildings underwater as waters rose.

Residents remain concerned that nothing has been done that will significantly stop the risk of a repeat this winter and they fear a failure to dredge the river will lead to problems.

Nub News has visited the area and those concerns are reflected in pictures of a waterway filled with weeds, reeds debris and mud and it seems almost inevitable that should there be heavy rainfall further towards the river's source, as it flows into the valley water will overflow the banks – which are barely discernible.

Stables and paddocks in the Mardyke Valley were flooded last year.

That is the fear of residents, who have called for preventative action, but concern has been downplayed by the Environment Agency which says: "While Mardyke Valley may appear overgrown, it is not at immediate risk of flooding so we would not carry out maintenance here for the sake of its appearance.

"The primary responsibility for maintaining watercourses lies with the landowner, and the involvement of the Environment Agency would depend on resources and whether any flooding might pose a risk to people or property.

"This would be carried out in conjunction with the landowners and Thurrock Council, and in a way that did not compromise biodiversity in the area."

Thurrock Council has not responded to our request for a comment.

The Environment Agency has confirmed it owns a small piece of land near Stifford Hill Road, where a gauging station is sited. However, it has stressed it does not own Mardyke Valley.

When the Mardyke overflowed last year it caused damage to Thurrock Scouts' buildings.