Charged for drains that don't drain??!!

Tippytoes

I've just received my water bill for 2010/11. I looked at the breakdown of charges and noted that there's an £8 charge for "highway drainage". I queried this with the water company and was told that everyone pays the same charge as that's the fairest way of doing it. Well, I said that if I have to pay, I should get something in return i.e. drains that actually drain. You see, there are two drains (in the road gutters) near to my home that flood whenever it rains. They've been like it for years and nothing gets done about it. The water company checked and said they are not responsible for the drains, and that the county council is responsible. The county council claims the local council is responsible. As I see it, if the water company is making the charge, surely it's down to them to get it sorted? Or is this simply another rip-off?

Cardew

There is more to a drainage system than just the drains in the road.

The normal position is that the council are responsible and the water company for the infrastructure futher 'downstream'.