I'm flooded twice a year

On Friday, June 15, my house, like many others, flooded. It was no freak occurrence, as this happens at least twice a year.

Luckily, I was at home and only my hall and garage were flooded.

Every time there is heavy rainfall my property floods due to the inability of the road drainage system in front of my house to take away the water.

Last August, during a heavy downpour, the whole of my house flooded, causing more than £30,000 worth of damage. It took more than 12 weeks to dry.

The Highways Department agreed after many months to put in two new drains, but after fitting one they disappeared. They said they couldn't fit the second drain as they had run out of money, even though the second new drain had been sitting on my drive for over a week.

After constantly chasing them they agreed to fit the second drain (apparently they had more money in the 2007 budget), but we are still waiting.

Now they say that even if they fit a second drain, the original pipes are too small in diameter to take the water away quickly enough.

They also mentioned that to correct this would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, which they say they don't have.

I have lived here 18 years. When I tell people we have been flooded they ask if we live by a river and are shocked when I tell them we don't, it's due to bad drainage.

We haven't claimed on the insurance this time as following the large claim last year we worried that our insurers may exclude flood losses. Our insurance has gone up nearly £200.

The highways department don't seem to care because it only affects my house. We live in constant fear.

The weather gets worse each year and even the flood assessor said that with global warming we will get more and more rain.

We have paid our rates for the last 25 years without fail and when we need help no one seems willing to solve the problem.

Tina Derry, Jenks Road, Wombourne.