Flooding Action Group

Sandgrown

Could anyone please give me any advice on how to set up a local action group to put pressure on the water company to improve the main drains? During very heavy rainfall, the drains cannot cope, they back up and water flows out of the gulleys in the road. Due to the topography of the land, several properties in my road lie below road level and the excess water runs down our driveways, floods garages and it is only the use of sandbags and frantic bailing that prevents it entering the houses with resultant misery and insurance claims. The water company are fully aware and the situation has existed for at least the last 9 years. The problem appears to be that the original sewers under the road were installed when the houses were built in the 30's and further building in the intervening years further up the hill has increased the loading to the point that the pipework cannot cope. Basically, the sewer pipes need replacing with larger capacity ones but the water company are reluctant to do so, partly because of finance but also, I suspect, because only a dozen or so properties are affected in a road of a couple of hundred.

I would be really grateful for any advice. I cannot describe the sickening feeling of dashing downstairs at 3 a.m. to pile old blankets and towels behind the front door to stop water getting into the house. This happens several times each year and as I write, Michael Fish is giving out a severe weather warning for tonight on BBC South East! More thunder storms moving up from France!

Thanks

Sandgrown