DRASTIC improvements are required to stop a busy road constantly flooding in heavy rain, according to a concerned councillor.

Fears have been raised about Rowhedge Road, Colchester, which is swamped by water every time there is a sizeable downpour.

The issue has got so bad water is frequently running down residents’s drives leaving them in fear that damage to their homes could be imminent.

Lee Scordis, who represents the area on Essex County Council, has called on highways bosses to resolve the long-running issue.

“For more than five years this road has flooded in heavy rain, usually covering the whole of the road,” he said.

“Cars still drive through and sometimes splash the houses.

“I’ve reported it, chased it numerous times over these five years and even attended a highways surgery but we need action now. The road is also a major bus route and this should take priority."

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

Mr Scordis said he believed poor drainage nearby was the root cause of the problem although residents had also seen concrete being disposed off down one of the drains.

He added: “The main issue, we believe, is due to blocked ditches behind the houses on private land.

“It has become a legal matter for Essex Highways to enforce.”

An Essex Highways spokesman said it was aware of the problem.

He added: “This is a repeating problem and has been added to the list of sites awaiting a surface water alleviation scheme (SWAS) by joint agencies, including Essex County Council.

“The highway drains have been repeatedly checked and jetted and are clear and working normally.

“They drain via a manhole adjacent to a private access road which was recently cleared by drainage engineers of concrete debris.

“However, the ditch the manhole feeds runs at the back of the houses and is reported to have been filled over the years with roots, plant and other debris.

The ditch is on private land and the landowner needs to clear it and residents or others must not dump rubbish of any kind in it or the same flooding will keep recurring.

“Many roads in Essex are on low-lying land and drainage depends on a fragile network of ditches.

“If these are blocked, there is nowhere for the highway drains to take the water to.”