EXCLUSIVE

OPINIONS appear very much split over flooding in Stanford-le-Hope – and other areas of the borough – last week with local Conservative councillors, including portfolio holders, pointing a finger of blame at Anglian Water.

However, the company has defended itself and played down problems – while the official line from Thurrock Council appears to be playing devil's advocate rather than taking the aggressive line of its ruling members.

Thurrock Nub News reported live from the homes of borough residents last week, who were fighting a battle to sweep rising water away from their doors.

Following this latest flooding, which also saw firefighters having to pump water from soaked homes in Catalina Avenue in Grays, Conservative councillors went on the front foot – in stark contrast to the situation in January this year when Thurrock Nub News repeatedly reported on significant problems, which were effectively brushed aside by council officers and councillors who failed to respond to our repeated questions.

In summary, we were told it was a 'once in a generation' problem that wouldn't be repeated.

Last week's flooding after just a few hours of heavy rainfall appears to have put paid to that assumption.

And it prompted the local Conservative group to issue the following statement: "Thurrock Conservatives are calling for Anglian Water to 'urgently, and meaningfully, get to the table' to address flooding issues that are occurring around different areas of Thurrock.

"Following the flooding issues in January, Conservative councillors have pushed Thurrock Council to push Anglian Water to engage with the council and the community to work to overcome issues of rain water building back onto areas in the town. Thus far, this has not been to any avail, and Anglian Water has been near-to-silent in responding to calls made by Thurrock Council to engage."

Stanford West councillors Terry Piccolo and Shane Hebb said: "Issues that residents had to experience again on Wednesday evening are realities that Anglian Water needs to face up to and confront the underlying challenge.

"We have worked with Thurrock Council to support the council going in with a business case to upgrade the Mucking Sluice, but that isn't all that needs doing here - Anglian Water need to promptly act and do something different."

Council portfolio holders Cllrs Andrew Jeffries and Ben Maney whose briefs include flooding matters added: "We have again seen so-called once in a lifetime flooding across the borough and are disappointed that Anglian Water has not engaged with Thurrock Council.

"It's now essential that they do so and immediately. There are many areas across Thurrock where Anglian Water need to engage, design and implement engineering fixes to reduce flooding and sewage bursting into the street repeatedly and bring the water management systems across Thurrock into the 21st Century".

However, the strong words of councillors do not appear to be mirrored by their officers.

Nub News asked for an official, non-political council opinion and received the following statement: "In the South East of England that includes Stanford and the whole of Thurrock there was between 20mm and 30mm rainfall in the space of just a few hours. The council received no calls to its emergency out of hours contact centre in relation to flooding.

"Government flood risk maps show that Ruskin Road and Runnymede Road in Stanford-le-Hope are at risk of flooding.

"Anglian Water have now been on touch with Thurrock Council about issues in this area this morning and recently installed a new pumping station in Wharf Road, as part of ongoing roadworks.

"A flood warning was sent to over 4,200 residents by email. Residents can subscribe to this email service via this link.

"Residents can also sign up to receive flood alerts by email, text or through a phone call by visiting GOV.UK: Sign up for flood warnings and registering."

An Anglian Water spokesperson said, "Flooding caused by rainfall is incredibly complex and managed by a number of organisations including councils, private drainage companies, the Environment Agency and Anglian Water amongst others, and we work very closely with all of them.

Surface water flooding can cause issues for water networks as sewers are simply not designed to carry water from excessive rainfall and intense bouts of heavy rainfall falling on hard ground are unable to drain away quickly enough, like a plughole in a bath.

"Responsibility for the drainage networks is shared between ourselves, the local council, the Environment Agency and the lead local flood authority and the local highways team as part of the council, are responsible for clearing road and surface water gullies to help prevent surface water flooding.

"We can confirm there are no reported issues on the network in the Thurrock area and recent issues in the area have been caused by flooding due to severe rainfall."