Edward has pressed LCC for action to tackle the persistent flooding under the railway bridge on Church Hill Road in Thurmaston. Following the recent very heavy rain, the roadway under the railway bridge has once again flooded, an event that is sadly familiar to local residents, businesses and pupils attending the schools on Church Hill Road. It is an issue that Edward has previously highlighted, and on which local County & Borough Councillor Brenda Seaton has worked and campaigned tirelessly for a long-term solution, alongside shorter-term, more affordable measures to improve matters for local residents.
While the need for the road to provide sufficient clearance under the bridge is recognised, meaning the need for the dip in the road, this means that it is always at risk of flooding, so a short term solution to improve drainage through regular gully clearing, and improved signage to better warn drivers of the depth of flood water is urgently needed. This needs to go hand in hand with finding a longer-term solution to resolve the flooding problem once and for all. County & Borough Councillor Brenda Seaton has tirelessly worked on this issue for some years, and LCC has previously explored the feasibility of different options, but it remains important a long-term, affordable, solution is found and progressed.
Edward commented: "I was at the Church Hill Road railway bridge in Thurmaston to see first-hand the impact of the flooding on the road beneath it, following the sustained heavy rain. Yet again, the road was completely impassable with deep water, highlighting the long-term flooding issues at this location. Late last year I met with Thurmaston's County and Borough Councillor, Brenda Seaton, to discuss what further progress we could make to tackle this and how; her latest work on the issue for residents; as well as the work of the Borough Councillors and Parish Council. Following this latest flooding I have again, as Thurmaston's local MP, taken up the cause, in support of Brenda's work, with the County Council to press them to think innovatively about new drainage solutions to fix the problem, in an affordable way, for local residents, and all those needing to use this important route, and to find a way forward to resolve the flooding once and for all."
